Angelia Turner is the Senior Equity Lead in Justice. Turner works on projects related to the intersection of structural racism and health equity in the justice system. Before joining WestEd, she was the Director/CEO of a consulting firm where she secured and managed over $24 million in contracts. Several projects included conducting evaluative studies focused on law enforcement training, policy reform, and alternatives to incarceration. She also served as a Research Analyst with the Federal Bureau of Prisons, where she developed and directed an offender baseline survey administered nationwide throughout federal correctional institutions. Turner also provided training for corrections personnel on conflict resolution, de-escalation tools, and report writing. She also spearheaded a Criminal Justice Leadership Advisory Council to serve as a platform for bridging gaps between shareholders, educational units, and the criminal justice system. Recently, Turner led efforts to develop a diversity, equity, and inclusion manual for criminal justice practitioners. She received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in criminal justice from the University of South Carolina.
Senior Leadership
Shawna White
Shawna White is the School Safety Lead. She directs and supports the Center’s existing projects funded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance and is working on expanding WestEd’s portfolio of research and technical assistance in school safety. Prior to joining WestEd, White worked with the Texas School Safety Center for nearly six years in various roles, including almost four years as Associate Director of Research and Evaluation. She served as project director on federal- and state-funded research and technical assistance grants spanning a variety of school safety matters. White earned a PhD in mass communication from Texas Tech University. She also earned an MA in mass communication and a BA in psychology from Texas State University.