Elaine de Leon Ahn is Roderick & Solange MacArthur Justice Center’s Director of Communications. In this role, she leads the organization’s communications vision and strategy, as well as the execution of MJC’s communications efforts, including media relations, digital outreach, issue-based campaigns, thought leadership, and events and partnerships.
With more than 15 years of advocacy and communications experience, Elaine has extensive experience in developing and managing campaigns that leverage the power of storytelling, public relations, and marketing for social change. She has helped nonprofit organizations educate audiences and influence the national conversation on a variety of issues, including equal access to health care and higher education, immigration, women’s rights, inequality, criminal justice, refugee rights, and human rights.
Elaine is also an impactful communications capacity-builder. She has helped organizations improve their communications functions by conducting communications audits, building teams, and developing internal communications infrastructures. She has also conducted media trainings and various workshops in public opinion research, message development, online communications strategy, ethical storytelling, thought leadership, and personal branding.
Prior to joining the MacArthur Justice Center, Elaine led communications at advocacy and policy organizations, including Tahirih Justice Center, Young Invincibles, Institute for Policy Studies, and Death Penalty Information Center. She has also served as an account manager at Vanguard Communications.
Elaine is a Steering Committee member of the Progressive Communicators of DC, a network of roughly 2,000 communications professionals in the DC area who specifically work on various progressive causes and issues, and has taught as an adjunct professor at American University’s School of Communications. Elaine holds a Masters in Strategic Communication from American University and a Masters in Theological Studies from Wesley Theological Seminary.
In her free time, Elaine enjoys watching baseball (Go Nats!), curling up with a good book, staying active, and supporting Northern Virginia’s burgeoning wine industry.