Jenna Bryant

Jenna Bryant is a dynamic strategist and leader with a proven track record in nonprofit management, workforce development, project management, and community engagement. With over two decades of experience, she blends academic expertise with on-the-ground insight to empower communities and regions to address structural inequities and advance economic mobility.

Jenna currently serves as Senior Program Director of Economic Security and Mobility at MDC, where she leads initiatives to develop equitable workforce and economic mobility strategies, improve access to economic supports, and work, and foster collaborative approaches that create pathways to prosperity for low- and moderate-income individuals and families. Her leadership emphasizes using data-driven solutions and community-centered engagement to tackle systemic barriers and support innovative regional strategies.

Previously, Jenna served as the Digital Inclusion and Equity Community Engagement Manager for the City of Durham, where she championed efforts to bridge the digital divide by leveraging data and empowering underserved communities with equitable access to technology and resources essential for modern economic participation.

From 2011 to 2022, Jenna held multiple roles at MDC, including Program Director, where she guided communities in aligning educational programs with employer needs to enhance outcomes for job seekers and businesses. Her work with community colleges resulted in the design and implementation of strategies and support services that promote financial security for lower-income students. She also co-authored a guidebook about how to scale these strategies and built a network of community-based organizations and educational institutions to address systemic barriers, including inequitable health outcomes in rural areas. Recognized for her impact, Jenna was appointed in 2017 as a Trustee for Durham Technical Community College, where she serves on committees focused on policies, leadership, and student success.

Jenna’s earlier career includes roles at Regional Technology Strategies (RTS), where she led regional economic analyses and occupational research, and the North Carolina Department of Commerce, where she evaluated job-creation programs and economic incentives. Her expertise spans data analysis, policy development, and strategic planning, with a strong emphasis on equity and inclusion.

Jenna holds a bachelor’s degree in international business with a concentration in Finance from Howard University and a master’s degree in economics from North Carolina State University. She is also an active board member for the Camber Foundation and Durham Tech Properties, LLC, demonstrating her commitment to fostering equity and opportunity in education and workforce systems.