Dana Redd is a graduate of Rutgers: The State University – Camden Campus with a B.S. degree in Business Studies. She earned a Master of Arts degree in Human Services Administration from The Lincoln University.
Dana Redd is a proven and experienced leader with over 20 years of service in the public sector. She is known as a forward-thinking professional with a demonstrated ability to lead organizational change. In fact, SJ Magazine
recognized Ms. Redd as “The woman warrior who just might change Camden” touting her tough stance and decision to join the Camden County Police Department. The transition, not only, lead to more officers patrolling the city, but also, resulted in significant crime reduction within the first year of operation.
Dana Redd has worked in various positions from local government to the New Jersey State Senate. As former State Senator, Ms. Redd was a member of Budget and Appropriations Committee, the Joint Committee on the Public Schools, and Urban Affairs Committee. She sponsored and negotiated the passage of legislation creating the Homeless Trust Fund, and $3.9 billion in new school construction funding for New Jersey Abbott Districts.
As Mayor, she successfully transitioned the city from state takeover to local control. Ms. Redd immediately launched a capacity building retreat for her executive staff and department heads focused on the “change model.” The initiative, not only, allowed her to set the vision, mission and goals for transforming the city, but also, fostered team building to increase service delivery and improve consumer satisfaction. Most notably, in 2014, Standard & Poor’s Rating Services (S&P) published an issuer credit rating of BBB+. S&P recognized the fiscal controls the Redd Administration instituted in order to improve and stabilize the finances of the city. This was a great achievement since the city had not received an investment grade rating in more than 15 years.
Ms. Redd is now the Chief Executive Officer of the Rutgers-Camden Board of Directors, the Joint Board of Governors for Rowan/Rutgers University. The Rowan University / Rutgers – Camden Board of Governors was created by the New Jersey Medical and Health Sciences Education Restructuring Act which took effect in 2012. The Board’s mission reflects an extension of Camden’s significant “eds and meds” presence and is expected to leverage the educational and research assets to support growth in the region’s health care capacity
In addition to her business acumen and volunteerism, Ms. Redd fosters and values the importance of civic engagement, grassroots organizing and responsible redevelopment. She is a motivational speaker for interfaith organizations, professional women’s groups and chambers of commerce.
A results driven leader, Ms. Redd has a unique ability to inspire hope, to effect change, and to transform organizations. Dana Redd clearly understands the enormous responsibility that comes with leadership.