Join SOE’s Education Policy Program for a candid and inspiring conversation with SOE alumni Trianna Downing (Community Action Team Specialist, DCPS) and Emma Banay (Inspired Minds Portfolio Manager, Overdeck Family Foundation) whose successful careers prioritize community engagement, advocacy, and equity-centered work. Our guest speakers will share how they transformed their academic interests into impactful professional pathways in community-centered careers, reflect on the challenges and opportunities shaping today’s education landscape, and offer strategies for building purposeful, people-focused work after graduation. Whether you’re interested in ed policy research, educational nonprofit leadership, on-the-ground organizing, or simply making a tangible difference in the lives of students, their families, and their communities, this webinar is a must-see!
Trianna Downing is a communications and community engagement professional committed to advancing educational equity and fostering meaningful partnerships between families, schools, and communities. As the Community Action Team Specialist for Wards 2 & 3 within the Office of External Affairs at DC Public Schools (DCPS), she leads efforts to ensure consistent, transparent engagement between the district and the broader community—work that reflects her belief in the power of collaboration to drive systemic change.
Trianna’s career is rooted in a passion for advocacy and service, informed by her academic journey. She earned a Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in Business Economics and Public Policy from The George Washington University and a Master of Science in Education Policy from Johns Hopkins University. Her prior experience spans community engagement, communications, partnership development, and advocacy—all focused on creating world-class education for K-12 students.
Emma Banay, Portfolio Manager, leads the Foundation’s Inspired Minds portfolio, which aims to develop the next generation of confident, creative problem-solvers by expanding access to engaging, high-quality STEM learning experiences.
Before joining the Foundation, Emma directed STEM initiatives at ExpandED Schools, New York City’s afterschool intermediary, building cross-sector partnerships to deliver robust STEM programming. Her career has focused on scaling direct service interventions alongside field-building efforts, including facilitating the NYC STEM Education Network and teaching middle school science.
Emma holds an M.S. in Education Policy from Johns Hopkins University and a B.A. in History and Science from Harvard University.
Event DateThursday, February 12, 2026Start Time: 7:00pm ESTEnd Time: 8:00pm EST
Hopkins at HomeLivestream
ContactOffice of Alumni RelationsJoe LetourneauLifelong Learning(800) JHU-JHU1HopkinsatHome@jhu.edu
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