Janice L. Mathis, Esq.
Director, NCBCP TWD Jr. Institute at Clark Atlanta University
Janice L. Mathis, Esq. is a nationally respected attorney, civil rights advocate, and nonprofit leader with decades of experience advancing social justice, civic engagement, and economic empowerment.
Since May 2025, Mathis has served as Director of the NCBCP Thomas W. Dortch Jr. Institute at Clark Atlanta University where she helps lead leadership development, civic engagement training, and policy education initiatives for the next generation of Black leaders.
Prior to joining NCBCP, Mathis held senior leadership roles with two of the nation’s most influential civil rights and women’s organizations. She served as Executive Director and General Counsel of the National Council of Negro Women, where she oversaw programming, communications, legal affairs, and national partnerships for an organization representing millions of women and families. During her tenure, she expanded NCNW’s social justice agenda, launching initiatives focused on health equity, economic empowerment, STEM education, and civic engagement.
Earlier, Mathis served as General Counsel and Vice President of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, founded by Jesse L. Jackson Sr.. In this role, she led major civil rights and corporate diversity initiatives, including the “Keep the Vote Alive” campaign to support the reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act. She also spearheaded shareholder advocacy efforts that increased opportunities for minority employment, contracting, and corporate board participation, and worked with major corporations such as Georgia Power and The Coca-Cola Company to advance diversity and inclusion.
A seasoned attorney, Mathis practiced law for nearly two decades in Athens, Georgia, handling real estate, bankruptcy, criminal, and civil matters, and was appointed Special Assistant Attorney General for the State of Georgia, representing state agencies including Child Support Enforcement and the Department of Transportation.
Throughout her career, Mathis has been a powerful voice on issues of voting rights, economic justice, and gender equity. She has testified before the U.S. Sentencing Commission and the United Nations Commission to End Racial Discrimination, and has held leadership roles in numerous civic and policy organizations.
A graduate of Duke University and the University of Georgia School of Law, Mathis combines legal expertise with strategic advocacy, making her a respected leader across the civil rights, nonprofit, and policy sectors.
Janice L. Mathis, Esq. continues to be a leading force in advancing equity, strengthening democratic participation, and building pathways for Black leadership nationwide.
