My name is Dr. Sesha Joi Moon and I am a global thought leader with 20 years of experience and expertise whose coined philosophy is "Diversity is delegating our differences and inclusion is celebrating our differences — but equity is elevating our differences."
I am a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and have served on the Board
My name is Dr. Sesha Joi Moon and I am a global thought leader with 20 years of experience and expertise whose coined philosophy is "Diversity is delegating our differences and inclusion is celebrating our differences — but equity is elevating our differences."
I am a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and have served on the Board of Directors with the African American Federal Executive Association and Commonwealth of Virginia's Criminal Justice Services Board as appointed by the 73rd Governor of Virginia.
In 2023, I was recognized by CNN at the United Nations as “100 of the Most Influential People of African Descent." I was also named "2023 Top 40 Under 40" by PBS NPR VPM’s Style Weekly and Axios named me and my sister, Enjoli Moon, as the second "Most Powerful Richmonders of 2022."
I reside in the Washington, DC area with my wife and cockapoo but hail from Richmond, Virginia as the proud daughter of Dr. Michon Moon and the late August Moon — who is best known for producing one of the most sampled baselines in hip hop music called "Seven Minutes of Funk."
I most notably served as Chief Diversity Officer for the U.S. House of Representatives at the U.S. Congress for the 117th and 118th Congresses — leading the U.S. House Office of Diversity and Inclusion as a non-partisan and non-legislative congressional office.
During my tenure, I was appointed by Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi and was reta
I most notably served as Chief Diversity Officer for the U.S. House of Representatives at the U.S. Congress for the 117th and 118th Congresses — leading the U.S. House Office of Diversity and Inclusion as a non-partisan and non-legislative congressional office.
During my tenure, I was appointed by Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi and was retained by Speakers Kevin McCarthy and Mike Johnson until the office was eliminated as part of efforts associated with the "Abolish Government DEI Act of 2023-2024."
Prior to joining the Legislative Branch, I served in the Office of the Secretary and U.S. Patent and Trademark Office at the U.S. Department of Commerce — before concluding my tenure as the inaugural Chief Diversity Officer at the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Over the course of my career, I received the Commerce Bronze Award for Superior Performance and Commerce Spirit Award.
I graduated with a Ph.D. in Public Administration and Policy from Old Dominion University in 2013, where I examined the role of intersectionality on talent mobility trends among women of color to the senior executive service.
I also earned a M.S. from the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs in 2008 and B.A. in Africa
I graduated with a Ph.D. in Public Administration and Policy from Old Dominion University in 2013, where I examined the role of intersectionality on talent mobility trends among women of color to the senior executive service.
I also earned a M.S. from the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs in 2008 and B.A. in African American Studies from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2005. As a proud alumna, I have received the Black History in the Making Award and VCU Alumni Stars Award.
In addition to completing executive education programs at Harvard University, I am also a Senior Research Fellow with The Conference Board’s Engagement Institute and Senior Fellow of the Excellence in Government Fellowship Program with the Partnership for Public Service.
I am the Executive Director of The JXN Project, also known as JXN, which is a historic preservation non-profit organization dedicated to capturing the pivotal role of Richmond, Virginia, in particular Jackson Ward, in the Black American experience — given its standing as one of the country's original "Black Wall Streets" and first histo
I am the Executive Director of The JXN Project, also known as JXN, which is a historic preservation non-profit organization dedicated to capturing the pivotal role of Richmond, Virginia, in particular Jackson Ward, in the Black American experience — given its standing as one of the country's original "Black Wall Streets" and first historically registered Black urban neighborhood.
JXN is a grantee of the Mellon Foundation's "Monuments Project" and recipient of the American Association for State and Local History's 2022 Leadership in History Award, as well as the 2022 RVA Community Maker Award by the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, 2022 Richmond History Maker Award by the Valentine Museum, and 2021 Golden Hammer Award for "Best Placemaking" by Historic Richmond.
JXN has been highlighted by PBS NewsHour, TIME, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, and 2021 Pulitzer Prize Winner Richmond Times-Dispatch — and is producing a film in partnership with PBS NPR VPM and exhibition with the Library of Virginia on America 250 for release in July 2026. To learn more information, please visit www.thejxnproject.org.
I, along with my family, endowed a series of scholarship funds at secondary and post-secondary institutions in my beloved hometown of Richmond, Virginia.
The George Ernest Johnson Endowed Scholarship Fund was established at Virginia State University in tribute to my grandfather in the amount of $20,000. The fund is designed to provide nee
I, along with my family, endowed a series of scholarship funds at secondary and post-secondary institutions in my beloved hometown of Richmond, Virginia.
The George Ernest Johnson Endowed Scholarship Fund was established at Virginia State University in tribute to my grandfather in the amount of $20,000. The fund is designed to provide need-based support to students in pursuit of an undergraduate degree in the Music Unit within the College of Humanities and Social Sciences or a member of the Trojan Explosion Band. To donate, visit please www.vsu.edu.
The Inez Orzene Jaudon Johnson Endowed Scholarship Fund was established at Virginia Union University in tribute to my grandmother in the amount of $25,000. The fund is designed to provide need-based support to students in pursuit of an undergraduate or graduate degree within the School of Eduction or Department of Social Work and Sociology. To donate, please visit www.vuu.edu.
The August and Michon Moon Endowed Scholarship Fund was established with Richmond Public Schools in tribute to my parents in the amount of $10,000 — which is the first endowed scholarship fund to be established in school system history. The fund is designed to provide need-based support to students in pursuit of continued education after earning a high school diploma or equivalent. To donate, please visit www.rvaschools.net.
I knew at an early age that I wasn't interested in becoming a traditional parent; however, I also recognized that I wanted to live a life that would leave a lasting legacy in support of the next generation of leaders — even if not through lineage.
After establishing endowments in honor of my anchoring ancestors, I was inspired to create th
I knew at an early age that I wasn't interested in becoming a traditional parent; however, I also recognized that I wanted to live a life that would leave a lasting legacy in support of the next generation of leaders — even if not through lineage.
After establishing endowments in honor of my anchoring ancestors, I was inspired to create the Dr. Sesha Joi Moon Endowed Scholarship Fund at my alma mater Virginia Commonwealth University — where I became the first Black queer woman to establish an endowed scholarship fund in university history. The fund is designed to provide need-based support to students in pursuit of an undergraduate or graduate degree in African American Studies within the College of Humanities and Sciences or the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs. To donate, please visit www.vcu.edu.
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