DR. BETHANY YOUNG

Dr. Bethany Young is a policy strategist, lawyer, and sociologist whose work sits at the intersection of research, advocacy, and systems transformation. With experience spanning government, nonprofit, and academic sectors, she brings a multidisciplinary approach to complex organizational challenges. Her expertise lies in aligning strategy with equity, facilitating stakeholder engagement across lines of difference, and translating research into sustainable change.

Bethany began her career in capital defense, representing clients on death row through her work with the Equal Justice Initiative and the Center for Death Penalty Litigation. These early experiences deepened her understanding of systemic inequality and continue to inform her approach to institutional reform and culture change. She later served as Director of the DC Police Reform Commission, guiding a politically and ideologically diverse group toward 100+ consensus recommendations during a pivotal national moment. At the Urban Institute, she led national efforts to integrate research and lived experience in criminal justice reform, and she now directs policy and legislative strategy in the Maryland Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy, with a focus on addressing the root causes of crime through prevention and intervention strategies.

Bethany has served on independent school and nonprofit boards. She regularly speaks to student and professional audiences about equity, leadership, and the experiences of women of color in academic and professional spaces. She holds a B.A. in English from Spelman College, a J.D. from George Washington University Law School, and an M.A. and Ph.D. in Sociology from Duke University. She brings a thoughtful, analytical lens to organizational planning and decision-making, with particular attention to power, process, and long-term impact.