We are excited to announce that Jenese Brownhill, LICSW, has been selected for the new role of Senior Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at JRI.

Jenese has extensive experience in leading teams that provide trauma-informed care to juvenile justice-involved youth, including directing quality improvement and change management associated with implementing various service delivery models.

Jenese became Co-Chair of JRI's Governing Body Subcommittee on Diversity and Inclusion in 2022. In this role, she collaborates with leaders across the agency to promote and ensure equitable practices and uphold the agency's mission with clear diversity, equity, and inclusion objectives and outcomes.

Jenese first joined JRI in 2014 as the Clinical Director of the Southeast Continuum Program. She then became the Program Director of the SMART Team Clinical Services Team and was later promoted to Director of the Juvenile Justice Division.

In her new role, she will drive JRI's DEI initiatives by providing strategic vision, leadership, and oversight to foster a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment throughout the organization.

"I'm extraordinarily excited to see Jenese take on this new leadership role in our race, diversity, equity, and inclusion work. While this work is our collective responsibility, Jenese brings the skills, experience, and perspective that are essential to success," said Andy Pond, President and CEO of JRI.

Jenese also served as an Adjunct Professor role at Boston College School of Social Work, where she taught Human Behavior and the Social Environment. In addition, for over a decade, she provided psychotherapy to adults dealing with depression, anxiety, adjustment issues, grief, loss, and trauma through her private practice, Brownhill Psychotherapy & Consulting Services. Through her private practice, she has also provided consultations on mental health issues, criminal behavior, immigration, and staff training.

Jenese received her Master's of Social Work from Boston College. She also received a certificate in Nonprofit Management and Leadership from the Institute for Nonprofit Practice at Tufts University as well as a certificate in DEI Leadership from LeadBoston.

She also serves on the board of Citizens for Juvenile Justice and is a Community Advisory Board member for Boston Children's Hospital's National Institutes of Health Research Project on Mental Health Engagement after Childhood Sexual Abuse.