DeQuendre Bertrand
Director of Communications
Pronouns: She/Her
Degrees
- M.A. in Sociology: George Washington University
- B.A. in Journalism: New York University
About DeQuendre Bertrand
DeQuendre Bertrand serves as RFA’s Director of Communications. In this role, she works to advance the organization’s mission and raise its profile, leveraging strategic plans for outreach, messaging, media, social, and digital communications. She works with RFA’s researchers to develop and promote their expertise, and she directs the dissemination of reports and products from RFA’s extensive portfolio of research design and evaluation projects.
Before joining RFA, she served as Director of Strategic Communications at the Urban Institute. DeQuendre has 20 years of experience in various writing, editing and communications management roles, with positions at daily newspapers, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies, including the Aurora Institute, the Center for the Study of Social Policy, and Alexandria City Public Schools. A lifelong learner and educator, she’s also taught at the community college level and served as a tutor for the Prince George’s County Literacy Council.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from New York University and a master’s degree in sociology from The George Washington University. Her work has been honored by the American Society of Newspaper Editors, the National School Public Relations Association, the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals, Association Media & Publishing, Public Relations Society of America, and the National Association of Government Communicators.