Dana M. Murray is an educator, administrator, and advocate dedicated to ensuring the most marginalized youth and families have access to a higher quality of life. Her career spans over three decades of empowering at-risk youth and families in education and in foster care. Both within the education and social services systems, Ms. Murray has dedicated her life to making public systems more accountable and equitable to the communities they serve.

A former Special Education Teacher in Newark Public Schools and a 15 year Family Advocate at Essex County Youth Advocate Program, she has a history of challenging systems to be more equitable, as well as helping them become more child and people-centered. Dana is a proud “disruptor” in the name of community and family transformation.

Ms. Murray is a graduate of Kean University and has earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology with a concentration in African-American Studies. She also has a degree in Criminal Justice and furthered her studies again when she became a mom seeking a Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology with special emphasis in Urban Education.

When she’s not working in her formal capacity, Ms. Murray volunteers as the Director of Community Relations and Development for SHE Wins Inc., a mentorship and leadership development organization for middle and high school girls in the City of Newark. There she helps oversee community partnerships, student, and family Engagement. She is a proud parent of her only child, A’Dorian Murray-Thomas, the CEO of SHE Wins! and a Newark Public School Board Member-.