Cherise Fanno Burdeen

Cherise Fanno Burdeen, PhD, is an executive leader with deep experience in organizational strategy, leadership development, and systems change. She has held senior roles across nonprofit, consulting, and government settings, leading complex initiatives in program growth, organizational transformation, stakeholder and community engagement, and institutional improvement. She previously served as Vice President of Mission Support at the National Legal Aid and Defender Association and as CEO and COO of the Pretrial Justice Institute. Cherise holds a PhD in Community Psychology and is the author of Emotion-First Theory & Practice, a book on emotional intelligence, leadership, and organizational change.