The Democracy Alliance is pleased to welcome Kim Anderson on board as Executive Vice President, beginning July 18. Anderson has been a senior figure in the National Education Association since 2001, where she is currently Senior Director of the Center for Advocacy and Outreach. She is, writes DA President Gara LaMarche, “the perfect fit to join the DA team as we aim to take our work to the next level.” Read on for her full bio.
Kim Anderson, the incoming Executive Vice president of the Democracy Alliance, currently serves as Senior Director of the Center for Advocacy & Outreach at the National Education Association (NEA). In this role, Ms. Anderson oversees the organization’s Campaigns and Elections Department, Collective Bargaining and Member Advocacy Department, Government Relations Department, Human and Civil Rights Department, and Minority Community Organizing and Partnerships Department. The Center is comprised of 105 staff and is responsible for advancing the NEA’s mission, vision, and core values through federal and state advocacy, collective bargaining and representational advocacy, social justice advocacy and leadership development, ballot issue and electoral campaigns, as well as outreach to and advocacy with external partners. Ms. Anderson provides significant counsel to the NEA leadership as well as NEA state affiliate leaders regarding political, legislative, and other advocacy strategies to strengthen public education and promote economic and social justice.
During Ms. Anderson’s tenure at the NEA, she previously directed the Government Relations department and was responsible for advancing policy on behalf of NEA’s over 3 million members at the federal level and within intergovernmental organizations. Prior to that, as Manager for Issue Advocacy in the Campaigns and Elections Department, Ms. Anderson oversaw the execution of over $23 million of NEA independent expenditure projects, issue advocacy work, ballot measure efforts in 18 states and national issue advocacy efforts related to college affordability. She has helped represent NEA in numerous national coalitions and partnerships over the years, including serving as a Board member or holding leadership positions in many, including EdLiNC, Progress Now, America Votes Education Action, Ballot Initiative Strategy Center, Progressive States Network, Learning First Alliance, State Innovation Exchange, and Every Voice.
Prior to her work with the NEA, Ms. Anderson served as Deputy Legislative Director and Counsel to Senator Charles Robb of Virginia, overseeing the legislative program and staff, as well as serving as Sen. Robb’s chief counsel during the impeachment trial of President William Jefferson Clinton. Ms. Anderson also co-authored legislation on behalf of African American farmers who had experienced decades of discrimination by USDA officials. The legislation paved the way for one of the largest civil rights settlements in American history.
Prior to her public service in the Senate, Ms. Anderson was an associate at the law firm of Covington and Burling in Washington, DC where she practiced in the firm’s Litigation and Food and Drug sections. She was appointed by Governor Mark Warner to serve on Virginia’s Board of Pharmacy, and is a former member of the Central Committee of the Democratic Party of Virginia.
Ms. Anderson received her undergraduate degree from the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, majoring in Government and completing teacher preparation in the College’s School of Education. Ms. Anderson received her law degree from George Washington University where she was a member of the George Washington University Law Review, the Moot Court Board, and was the first African American woman to serve as President of the Student Bar Association.
Ms. Anderson frequently appears or comments on national policy and politics, having appeared on CNN, Fox News, local cable channels, as well as in national publications such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, National Journal, Education Week, Ed Daily, and many others. Kim has proudly worked for the NEA since March of 2001. She and her husband Patrick live in Alexandria, VA and have two children.