Location Washington, District of Columbia, United States Regions Washington DC Metro Area, Southern US Gender Female
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Waikinya J.S. Clanton, MBA is the National Executive Director for the National Organization of Black Elected Legislative Women (NOBEL Women). Prior to serving as Executive Director for NOBEL Women, Clanton began her career in government relations serving as personal staff member to the Congressman Bennie G. Thompson of Mississippi. She served as
Thompson’s trusted aid on constituent based issues and management on special projects. During her tenure on Capitol Hill, Clanton served as President of the congressional staff led organization Congressional Black Associates, co-coordinator of the Deltas on the Hill network and member of African American Women on the Hill.
As Executive Director for NOBEL Women, Clanton proudly reestablished the organization’s training program for African American women interested in the political, corporate or nonprofit leadership via its Leadership Training and Educational Development Institute; serves as the architect of the organization’s premier STEM education program for girls, Girls, Gigabytes and Gadgets (3G) and is responsible for creating a pathway for engagement for the organization’s donors and supporters through its Corporate Advisory Council.
Ms. Clanton is an ambassador of the International Black Women’s Public Policy Institute; an alumnus of the Congressional Black Caucus Institute’s Political Boot Camp program and was recognized as a member of the “Inaugural Top 40 under 40 of Tougaloo College” recipient of the Christine Ray Davis Trailblazer award, from the Congressional Black Associates, recipient of the 2015 emPOWER players award from emPOWER magazine and was named a Rising Political Star of 2014 by the same publication.
Ms. Clanton received her Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix, Washington, DC. Ms. Clanton is a cum laude graduate of Tougaloo College, where she was a Bonner’s Scholar and active in the Student Government Association, Peer Educators, and President of the Tougaloo College, Chapter of the NAACP as well as State Secretary. Ms. Clanton was initiated into Gamma Psi Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She also was a charter member of the Tougaloo College Chapter of Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, International.
In 2015, Ms. Clanton created Power of the PUMP, a network designed to connect enterprising women of purpose and position together. This network encourages women of power to use their influences to make substantive and meaningful impact for those in need. Clanton is also the architect of Girls, Gigabytes and Gadgets(3G), a STEM initiative designed to encourage African American girls, between the ages of 8 and 18, to pursue careers within or throughout the science, technology, engineering, arts/agriculture and mathematics disciplines.
Ms. Clanton is an active member of the Washington Area Tougaloo Alumni Chapter (WATAC); a member of the Tougaloo College National Alumni Association; a member of the National Council of Negro Women and the Federal City Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She is a member of Alfred Street Baptist Church in Alexandria, VA.
