Monique S. Toussaint is the senior career leader for the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Black Americans. The Initiative works to develop, implement, and coordinate educational programs and initiatives at the US Department of Education and other agencies to improve educational opportunities and outcomes for African Americans of all ages. Ms. Toussaint manages the operational duties of the Initiative (i.e. strategic planning, project management, programming, etc.), coordinates the student volunteer intern program, and facilitates relationships with internal and external stakeholders. Her primary focus includes highlighting resources to improve the programs, practices and policies enacted by the caring and concerned adults responsible for students’ development and to increase the participation of the Black community and institutions that serve the Black community in the Department’s programs and in education programs at other agencies.
Prior to joining the federal government, Monique held positions in the Leadership Development Division at the Institute of International Education; Sallie Mae’s Kids2College DC; American University’s Career Center; conducted her practicum at the Institute of College Preparation at Georgetown University’s Center for Multicultural Equity and Access; and participated in a two-week Delegation on Business in China with the International Scholar Laureate Program.
Monique holds a M.A. in Education and Human Development from George Washington University and a B.S. in Business Administration from the Kogod School of Business at American University in Washington, DC. She enjoys helping others help themselves, served as a tutor with Horton’s Kids, is a Past President of the Rotary Club of Dupont Circle, and was an inaugural member and Professional Development Co-Chair of the YWCA’s newly established Young Women’s Leadership Council. Passionate about empowering others, she is a Group Coach for the Office of Personnel Management’s (OPM) Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Leadership Development Program, Executive Coach for the Treasury Executive Institute, was an Adjunct Instructor for the Adult Basic Education program at Prince George’s Community College, received the 2013 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drum Major for Service President’s Volunteer Service Award, was recognized for Leadership in the 2017 Who’s Who Among Young Professionals by the National Urban League Young Professionals, and is a 2021 Alumni of the Excellence in Government Fellows Program.
