Staff
A passionate group of activists and change agents committed to building a more peaceful and just world, our staff works to inflict long-lasting change by supporting the next generation of civic leaders.
RASHAWN DAVIS (HE/HIM)
Executive Director
Rashawn Davis is the Executive Director at The Andrew Goodman Foundation. Rashawn is an experienced leader, practitioner, and advisor, with a passion for social justice and a deep commitment to closing societal gaps that disproportionately affect marginalized communities.
As the former Director of the Racial Justice Labs at Change.org, Rashawn spearheaded the investment of millions of dollars into Black and Brown leaders driving impactful racial justice work. He has served in both the public and private sectors, playing pivotal roles in designing and implementing transformative impact initiatives, including Newark’s historic Police Review Board, where he was appointed by Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka in 2018 to serve a term as commissioner. In 2014, Rashawn became one of the youngest people in the history of Newark to be certified and appear on a municipal election ballot at the age of 21. He led an insurgent campaign for a City Council seat representing the city’s west ward.
Rashawn is a dynamic speaker and has given talks at institutions such as The City University of New York, The New School, and Pinterest. He is a sought-after speaker on topics related to equity, public policy, and leadership. Rashawn is also a proud member of the Board of Directors for the W.E.B. DuBois Scholars Institute at Princeton University. Rashawn graduated from Georgetown University with a bachelor's degree in Government and he earned a master’s degree from New York University’s Robert F. Wagner School. He is a proud resident of Newark, NJ.
MARGARET KNEHANS (SHE/HER)
Deputy Executive Director
Margaret Knehans is the Deputy Executive Director at The Andrew Goodman Foundation. With a career spanning 10 years at civil and voting rights nonprofit organizations, Margaret is a strategic, dedicated, and caring leader with extensive practical experience in both communications and program management. In her role, Margaret manages AGF's daily operations, supporting AGF's talented team to implement our goals and vision.
First joining AGF in 2017, Margaret was most recently the Director of Communications, working to elevate AGF’s brand, including our legacy story, and raise awareness about our organization’s impact through powerful storytelling. Margaret has also served as a Program Manager, guiding Andrew Goodman Ambassadors across the South in the execution of campaigns to increase the student voting rate and voting accessibility on campus, as well as in their personal and professional growth as young civic leaders.
Previously, she worked at Learning for Justice (formerly Teaching Tolerance), a project of the Southern Poverty Law Center that supports equitable school experiences and learning opportunities for all students. As a Research Associate, she developed social justice and anti-bias professional development and curricular resources for K-12 educators.
Margaret is a two-time graduate of the University of Alabama, where she obtained a Bachelor's degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, concentrating on gender and race theory, and a Master's degree in American Studies, focusing on American popular music. Born and raised in Montgomery, Alabama, Margaret has a lifelong passion for and commitment to fighting for more inclusive, representative communities for us all. She and her husband Sam live in New Orleans, Louisiana, with their dog Birdie.
ALEXANDER DAVIS (HE/HIM)
Vice President of Development
Alexander Davis is a nonprofit leader, campaign strategist, and advancement professional serving as the Vice President of Development at The Andrew Goodman Foundation. Over the past decade, Alex has led transformational efforts with startup, emerging, and established nonprofits and campaigns. He has built and scaled contributed and earned revenue streams while nurturing and leading teams, creating dynamic partnerships with private and public institutions, educating and engaging funders, exceeding goals, managing tight budgets, and delivering results. He has fundraised millions of dollars for nonprofit organizations in diverse sectors with focuses ranging from hyperlocal to global, managed campaigns in multiple states, advised organizations and candidates throughout the country, and served on boards of directors and committees.
Alexander has previously held senior-level advancement roles at Peace First, Gateway Film Center, and the Columbus College of Art & Design. At the Film Center, Alexander served as the organization's first director of development for four years before leading the organization’s fundraising and membership programs through the onset and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. In these roles, Alexander led the Film Center through its transition from LLC to 501c3 nonprofit while growing contributed revenue from less than $20,000 to more than $1.5 million annually. He also led efforts during the pandemic to raise nearly $4 million to sustain and invest in the Film Center's people, programs, operations, and facility, which saved teammates’ jobs and kept the organization alive.
Before moving to Columbus in 2016, Alexander served as the executive director of development for HillVets, a startup veterans service organization based in Washington, DC. Outside of his full time work, Alexander served on the board of directors of Equality Ohio for 4 years and was the founding board president of At Home By High. He and his husband Chase live in Columbus with their dogs Oliver and Winston. Alex is an avid New York Mets fan and has played ultimate frisbee since high school.
KRISTY SMITH (SHE/HER)
Senior Director of Operations
Kristy Smith is the Senior Director of Operations at The Andrew Goodman Foundation. Kristy is responsible for overseeing AGF’s operations, which include finance, human resources, and compliance. Kristy holds a BA in Psychology and Educational Studies from the University of Delaware. She started her non-profit career in finance at an organization supporting victims of domestic violence, and since then, has acquired over 10 years of non-profit operational experience. She is passionate about advocating for social justice issues including voting rights, paid parental leave, and the gender pay gap. Kristy has three children that keep her busy, and when she does have free time, she enjoys taking them on nature walks and exploring local parks in the NJ/NY area.
MO BANKS (THEY/THEM)
Director of Communications
Mo is the Director of Communications at The Andrew Goodman Foundation. With a passion for youth empowerment, civic engagement, and social progress, Mo brings a wealth of experience and creativity to their role, driving the organization's mission and programming to new heights. Collaborating closely with AGF staff, students engaged in the programs, university staff, and fellow nonprofit leaders, Mo fosters a network of change-makers dedicated to promoting youth electoral and civic engagement on university campuses nationwide. Mo is also the host, editor, and producer of the "Live The Legacy Podcast." Through this platform, Mo engages in compelling conversations with influential activists, community leaders, and scholars who share their experiences, expertise, and ideas on various social and political issues.
With over five years of dedicated service in the progressive movement space, Mo has been a steadfast advocate for positive change and believes a robust digital strategy is a key factor in leveraging progressive wins, increasing accessibility in our movement spaces, and transforming narratives in service of cultural shifts. They spend their free time listening to podcasts, watching basketball, and battling their wife and 4 kids in Mario Kart.
ASHANTI CALLENDER (SHE/HER)
Development and Special Projects Associate
Ashanti Callender is the Development and Special Projects Associate at The Andrew Goodman Foundation. Growing up in Brooklyn, New York, she saw firsthand that education equity had a large impact on her community. To address these disparities, Ashanti attended Georgetown University and got heavily involved with the Center for Social Justice, where she supported operations with After School Kids Program, and later on joined the Social Innovation and Public Service Fund, where she managed a $1.25M endowment. Prior to joining AGF, Ashanti worked as a Special Projects Manager & Executive Assistant to CEO at RISE, a nonprofit that uses sports as a vehicle to combat racial discrimination.
WASHINGTON CUZCO (HE/HIM)
Operations and Development Associate
Washington Cuzco is the Operations and Development Associate at The Andrew Goodman Foundation. Born in Ecuador and raised in the Bronx, Washington always found ways to become involved within his community — working for the local food pantry, volunteering at animal rescues, and tutoring GED students. Following some educational challenges that left him questioning his academic trajectory, Washington found solace in high school completion programs and college access programs that provided the support and encouragement he needed to go far in life. Washington is now a proud holder of a B.B.A in Finance from Baruch College and is currently pursuing an MBA at the same institution. Washington has diverse experiences, previously serving in roles such as Administrative Assistant, Finance Administrator, and Staff Accountant at non-profit organizations centered on college access, community services, and medical research. During his free time, Washington likes to be outdoors with his two dogs — Slinky and Pepper — and his fiance, Gina.
MIA MATTHEWS (SHE/HER)
Program and Communications Manager
Mia Matthews is the Program and Communications Manager at The Andrew Goodman Foundation. She studied Citizenship & Civic Engagement and Writing & Rhetoric at Syracuse University and graduated in 2021. From Syracuse city, she has been working with nonprofit and community organizations for eight years on youth empowerment and intergroup dialogue facilitation initiatives. She currently lives in Boston, Massachusetts and in her free time can be found playing guitar and exploring our beautiful planet.
GABRIELLE SLAUGHTER (SHE/HER)
HBCU Lead Program Manager
Gabrielle Slaughter is the HBCU Lead Program Manager at The Andrew Goodman Foundation. Gabrielle is a graduate of Spelman College with a bachelor's degree in Political Science. Her passions include dancing, social justice, and public interest. She takes pride in being a servant leader and mentor for young black and brown girls in her community. Her long term goals include becoming an attorney and serving as representation for others who desire to implement change in our legal system.
CAROLINE SMITH (SHE/HER)
Director of Programs
Caroline Smith is the Director of Programs at The Andrew Goodman Foundation. Caroline is a proud Jersey girl living in Brooklyn, NY. She received her BA in Sociology and a certificate in Community Action/Public Policy at Connecticut College in 2018. After graduation, she began her organizing career with the Student PIRGs at Rutgers University-Newark, where she trained and mobilized students to run campaigns around voter engagement, affordable textbooks, and environmental issues on campus. She then jumped into national electoral work on Senator Cory Booker's presidential campaign for the 2020 primary cycle. In her third year with AGF, Caroline is excited to continue working with young organizers across the country to institutionalize civic and voter engagement.
KAYLEE VALENCIA (SHE/HER)
Program Manager: Operations Strategist
Kaylee Valencia is the Program Manager: Operations Strategist at The Andrew Goodman Foundation. Kaylee is a graduate of Louisiana State University with a bachelor's degree in Political Science. Her passions include creativity, civic engagement, social justice, and community building. Kaylee's experience is in amplifying the voices of young people by working to institutionalize civic engagement in higher education, as well as in helping others find what they care about and encouraging them to fearlessly pursue it. She believes that your vote is your voice, but your capacity to make meaningful change extends so much further than the ballot box.