Deena Hayes-Greene is a dynamic leader dedicated to advancing racial equity and civil rights. As the Co-Founder and Managing Director of the Racial Equity Institute (REI) and a partner at the Groundwater Institute, that spearheads innovative initiatives to expose and eliminate with a wealth of experience in public service, Deena has been a trailblazer in her roles as a Human Relations Commissioner for the City of Greensboro, Chair of the International Civil Rights Center and Museum Board of Directors, and five-term elected member and current Chair of the Guilford County School Board.
Her commitment to social justice extends to national platforms, including her appointment to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) Unconscious Bias Committee.

Deena's advocacy has garnered recognition, such as the prestigious Benjamin E. Mays Lifetime Achievement Award from the Council of Urban Boards of Education. She continues to champion change as a member of critical committees like the Disproportionate Minority Contact (RED) Subcommittee of the North Carolina State Advisory Group on Juvenile Justice (SAG). In 2020, Deena's expertise was sought by the President’s Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Justice, appointed by former President Donald Trump, where she testified to advance reforms aimed at improving the profession of law enforcement. Deena Hayes-Greene exemplifies unwavering dedication to building a more just and equitable society.