A native Washingtonian from southeast D.C., Patience has nearly 20 years of experience in nonprofits, philanthropy, and the public sector. As Executive Director of Flamboyan DC, she maximizes the impact of the organization’s education work by building and sustaining an equity-focused, high-functioning team that produces catalytic and sustainable results, and helps guide the overall direction of the organization.
Before her appointment to DC Executive Director, she served as the Senior Managing Director of External Affairs at Flamboyan where she oversaw communications, product development, and public affairs. Before joining Flamboyan, she was appointed by Mayor Muriel Bowser’s Administration to serve as the Director of Communications and Community Engagement at D.C.’s state education agency, the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE). Prior to OSSE, Patience was Vice President of Communications and Creative at the national poverty-alleviation organization, LIFT, where she built a communications domain from the ground up. She has also worked in fundraising communications at The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids; ran grant programming for hunger alleviation funder Share Our Strength (No Kid Hungry); and began her career in sales for the global healthcare and higher education consulting firm, Advisory Board Company.
Outside of her role at Flamboyan, Patience strives to “be the change you wish to see” by philanthropically supporting local and national charities committed to making communities stronger. In addition to her role as Board Member for the Congressional Hunger Center, she is Vice Chair of New Futures, an organization working to end generational poverty in the D.C. region. She also mentors young women of color as they navigate college and begin their careers and is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.
With a strong village of support, she graduated from Hampton University with a B.S. in Marketing and later received her master’s degree in Global Strategic Communication from Georgetown University. From 2003-2004, Patience served as a member of the 10th Class of Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellows. Patience’s most important and fulfilling roles are as a mom to two young girls, Peyton and Sidney, and as a partner to her husband Dan.