Dr. Brenda Edgerton-Webster

Dr. Brenda Edgerton-Webster serves as the Chief Development & Communications Officer for the Umoja Community Education Foundation. With a distinguished career spanning higher education, nonprofit development, and strategic communication leadership, Dr. Edgerton-Webster is deeply committed to advancing equity, access, and student success.

Her extensive experience includes executive roles as the Director of Philanthropy at Kitchens for Good (San Diego, Ca), Division Chair of Applied Media at Higher Colleges of Technology (Dubai, UAE), Executive Director of Communications at Metropolitan Human Services District (NOLA), and Department Chair of Mass Communication at Xavier University of Louisiana (NOLA) - - where she championed inclusive excellence and innovative communication and development strategies. Over the last five years, she has also worked with California Community Colleges to promote initiatives that support Black student success and foster meaningful community partnerships; as well as facilitated DEI workshops throughout the state of California under the auspices of the San Diego Anti-defamation League.

Dr. Edgerton-Webster holds a Ph.D. in Journalism History (with two graduate certificates in Higher Education Leadership and Women & Gender Studies) from the famed University of Missouri School of Journalism and brings a visionary approach to aligning organizational strategies with impactful storytelling, relationship building, and mission-driven fundraising. Passionate about empowering underrepresented communities, she leverages her expertise in philanthropic outreach and developing communication infrastructures to amplify Umoja’s mission of transforming the lives of students through culturally responsive education.