Dana Redd

Democrat

Dana Redd is a proven and experienced leader with over 25 years’ 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. The NJ Spotlight published article “Upgrade In Troubled City’s Credit Rating Gives Camden New Hope” featured the city’s progress under her leadership.

Dana Redd has worked in various positions from local government to the New Jersey State Senate. As a former Council Representative, and Chair of the Housing Authority, Ms. Redd secured the city’s third HOPE VI designation. The investment of $122 million transformed an entire community with new public housing, expanded access to healthcare, improved parks and open space, as well as, provided community supportive services for residents to reach self-sufficiency. As a former State Senator, Ms. Redd was a member of the Budget and Appropriations Committee, the Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee, the Community and Urban Affairs Committee, as well as, the Joint Committee on the Public Schools. She sponsored and negotiated 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 customer satisfaction. While 2012 began the transition to a Camden County Police Department for public safety, in 2013, Ms. Redd led a full state intervention into the public school system to improve academic outcomes for urban youth. The state and local partnership focused on creating the “cradle to college to career” pathways in education offering Camden parent’s choice through traditional, charter, and Renaissance schools. Most notably, in 2014, Standard and 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.

Dana Redd currently serves as CEO of the Rowan University/Rutgers-Camden Board of Governors. In this role, Ms. Redd is responsible for overseeing board operations and the construction of a 95,000-square-foot Joint Health Sciences Center located at Broadway and Stevens Street in Camden. The building will deliver education and training opportunities to a new generation of health care providers while also providing world-class research space for Rutgers, Rowan and Camden County College faculty developing innovations in the biosciences and allied health. Additionally, Ms. Redd is charged with developing programmatic and policy initiatives which reflect the Board’s mission and overarching objectives of education, economic development and civic engagement.

Dana Redd is a graduate of Rutgers: The State University – Camden Campus with a B.S. degree in Business Studies. She earned CEUs at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning/Public Policy, as well as, at the CSC/ERC Robert J. Thompson Eastern Leadership Academy. She received her M.A. degree in Human Services Administration from The Lincoln University.

In addition to her business acumen and volunteerism, Ms. Redd fosters and values the importance of civic engagement, grassroots organizing and responsible redevelopment. She strongly believes that a holistic approach must be undertaken to rebuild a city and to create a more vibrant, thriving urban core. She is a motivational speaker for interfaith organizations, nonprofit organizations, professional women’s groups and chambers of commerce.

As 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.