Dr. Natasha James-Waldon joined the DC Charter Chapter of ABWA in September 2021. Professionally, she has been a journalist, a legislative assistant on Capitol Hill, a public interest attorney, and a leader in non-profit management and public governance. In addition, Natasha participated in three fellowship programs – Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Congressional Fellowship, The National Public Interest Equal Justice Fellowship (now Equal Justice Works), and the Prudential Foundation Non-Profit Executive Leaders Fellowship. Currently, she works as an Education and Training Specialist providing trainings in the areas of anti-bias and anti-discrimination. In addition, she works as an Adjunct Professor for two colleges where she teaches a variety of courses on the Doctorate, Masters and Undergraduate levels in Education, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Communications and Business. Natasha also serves as a member of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advisory Council for Middlesex College.

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In 2017, Natasha earned a Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership, Learning and Innovation from Wilmington University. Her dissertation was titled: “A Garden State View: How New Jersey Newspaper Fame Messages About Poverty”. She has a Juris Doctor and a Master of Professional Studies in Media Administration from Syracuse University. She also has a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Temple University. In addition, Natasha has a certificate in Non-Profit Management and Public Governance from Rutgers University, and a certificate in Fundraising Management from Indiana University.

Natasha has always been engaged in being of service in the community. She is a charter member of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women – Central Jersey Chapter. She was also a charter board member for the Anti-Poverty Network of New Jersey, where she served as the Co-Chairperson of APN’s Structural Racism and Poverty Working Group. In addition, she was a Commissioner on the Perth Amboy Redevelopment Agency for 10 years, chair of the Middlesex County East Health and Human Services Consortium, a member of the Municipal Alliance for the City of Perth Amboy, a member of the Middlesex County Human Service Advisory Council and a member of the Raritan Bay Medical Center Community Benefit Taskforce.

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Natasha’s favorite quote, and the model in which she tries to live her life, is by the late author and columnist Erma Bombeck: “When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would have not a single bit of talent left, and could say, ‘I used everything you gave me.’

Natasha has been married to her husband, Ian, for over 22 years, and they reside in New Jersey with their two children.