Staff

Tonya is a graduate of Hampton University and the University of Delaware’s graduate program in Urban Affairs and Public Policy. Her career has been exclusively devoted to service to locally and nationally recognized nonprofit organizations and to local government.  She was a charter member of Public Allies Delaware and was then hired as the program’s first Development Director.  Since then, Tonya has led AmeriCorps Programs, such as LEAP of Connecticut and the Redding Junior Scholars Program under the Louis L. Redding Chair for the Study of Law and Public Policy, Professor Leland Ware.  

Over the years, Tonya has also contributed to the missions of other local nonprofits such as Girls Inc. of Delaware, The Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League and Winterthur Museum and Country Estate. Tonya was a member of Communications teams for two Mayoral administrations and was Legislative Director for Wilmington City Council prior to joining the NHC-DE program with the County. Most recently, she contributed to community and legislative outcomes related to Wilmington City Council’s participation in City and Statewide COVID-19 response plans.