Denise Chandler

she/her

Denise Chandler works as the associate director of Vera’s Redefining Public Safety initiative to assist jurisdictions across the country to create and strengthen a new public safety ecosystem.

Denise has extensive experience working to advance racial justice in public safety and in applying innovative approaches to implementing public safety models. Before joining Vera, she led the Model Use of Force Project at the Stanford Center for Racial Justice and has worked in the New Orleans Mayor’s Office on jail reduction programs, police reform, and racial justice initiatives.

In addition to her work at Vera, Denise is an advisory board member of Dillard University’s Center for Racial Justice and a leadership team member of the National Coalition for Equity Impact.

Denise holds a BA in political science from Loyola University New Orleans and a JD from Marquette University.