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Dr. C.A. Friend, PhD has extensive experience in various leadership roles focused on justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. Currently, they hold the position of Senior Director of Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) at Tides. Prior to this, Dr. Friend worked as President and Senior Consultant at their own consultancy firm, C.A. Friend Consulting. They also served as the Interim President at Thrive Chicago and Chief Impact Officer at Heartland Alliance. Their experience includes roles such as Director of Research, Evaluation & Assessment at Indianapolis Public Schools, Senior Program Officer at Renaissance West Community Initiative, and Adjunct Professor at Wingate University. Dr. Friend has also held multiple positions within Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, including Executive Director of Office of Equity and Accountability, Executive Director of Planning and Evaluation of Project LIFT, Director of Research and Evaluation of Office of Equity and Accountability, and Executive Director of Achievement Zone. They have also worked as Core Faculty at Wildacres Leadership Initiative and as a Senior Relationship Manager at United Way of Central Carolinas.

Dr. C.A. Friend, PhD has a diverse educational background that spans various fields of study. They began their academic journey at Teaneck High School from 1989 to 1993, where they obtained their high school diploma. Subsequently, Dr. Friend pursued their Bachelor's Degree in American History (United States) at the University of Pennsylvania, completing their studies from 1993 to 1997. Building upon their undergraduate education, they pursued a Master's Degree in Social Sciences at the University of Chicago, which they obtained in 1998.

Driven by their passion for research and furthering their knowledge, Dr. Friend then pursued a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, specializing in Human Development and Family Studies, General. They dedicated their academic endeavors to this field from 2001 to 2009, culminating in the completion of their Ph.D. degree.

To complement their existing education, Dr. Friend expanded their understanding of diversity and inclusion by obtaining a Diversity and Inclusion Certificate from Cornell University. The exact dates of their enrollment for this certificate remain unknown, but they completed the program in 2020.

In addition to their formal education, Dr. Friend also holds a Nano Tips for Interpersonal Communication certification obtained from LinkedIn in August 2023.