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Project

Fair Chance to Advance Advisory Boards

Fair Chance to Advance is informed and shaped by insights and wisdom from leaders who have had professional and personal interactions with the carceral system.

National Advisory Board

The FC2A national advisory board is made up of esteemed experts from a range of sectors who provide strategic guidance to ensure the initiative’s success.

The 2026 advisory board members are:

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Jaime Cruz, Executive Director, Workforce Connections

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Le'Ann Duran, Senior Director, Portfolio, Blue Meridian Partners

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Laura Ferguson Mimms, President & CEO, Tennessee Higher Education Initiative

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Ellie Hartman, Chief Evaluation Officer, Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development

Rob Jeffreys, Director, Nebraska Department of Correctional Services & CLA President

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Molly Lasagna, Senior Strategy Officer, Incarcerated Learner Initiatives, Ascendium Education Group

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Dane Linn, Senior Vice President, Business Roundtable

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Robert McGough, State Chief Data Officer, Arkansas Department of Shared Administrative Services

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Rachel Sander, Executive Director, SUNY Office of Higher Education in Prison

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Tarra Simmons, State Representative, Washington State House of Representatives

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John Simpkins, former President & CEO, MDC; Consultant

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Jonathan Stenger, Chief Strategy Officer, YouthBuild Global

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Alison Wrynn, Senior Vice Chancellor, Academic and Student Affairs, University System of Maryland

Directly Impacted Advisory Boards

Each FC2A state action network is supported by a Directly Impacted Advisory Board made up of five people with lived experience of incarceration who offer personal insights to help guide the work at every stage.

The members of these advisory boards are selected through an application process led by JFF. The feedback and guidance they provide ensure that state plans and actions reflect real experiences, address real barriers, and respond to real needs.