Our Team

Dana Simpson is a mission-driven leader and seasoned professional with over two decades of experience advancing equity, access, and opportunity across the District of Columbia’s education and workforce ecosystems. As Director of Community Partnerships and Growth at DC Central Kitchen, Dana leads a dynamic team and strategic initiatives that connect underserved communities with culinary training, career pathways, and long-term support systems.

Her work centers on cultivating cross-sector partnerships that drive outcomes in workforce development, food access, volunteer engagement, and economic mobility, all while fostering inclusive, community-rooted solutions. Dana has played a pivotal role in aligning community engagement efforts with funding priorities, media storytelling, and long-term partnership development. Her approach is grounded in dismantling barriers to economic mobility for DC residents through inclusive, data-informed strategies.

Prior to joining DC Central Kitchen, Dana served as Lead Specialist at the Office of the State Superintendent of Education’s DC ReEngagement Center, where she developed best-fit educational placements for disconnected youth and led outreach, recruitment, and professional development initiatives. Her career also includes extensive experience in workforce development, having served as a Workforce Development Specialist with the Department of Employment Services.

Dana brings to the Advisory Committee a deep understanding of DC’s postsecondary success landscape, a track record of cross-sector collaboration, and a passion for shifting advising paradigms to reflect the diverse, high-quality pathways available to DC youth and residents.