Jonelle Henry

Director of Programs

Jonelle Henry is a respected journalist and a leader in her field with over 20 years of media & communications experience. She is the CEO of Jonelle Henry Presents and teaches media and politics at the Washington Center. She previously served as senior producer for C-SPAN, covering foreign policy, the White House, and Congress. Jonelle received her bachelor’s degree in Broadcasting at the University of Florida and completed her master’s degree at Johns Hopkins University in Communication in 2012, focusing on the intersection of race, media & politics. She was also a Congressional fellow for the National Press Foundation. Jonelle is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. 

A dedicated leader in her community, Jonelle has served on numerous boards including the Alliance for Women in Media as the DC chapter president and currently sits on the board of the DC Black Film Festival. In 2011, Jonelle launched Districtly Speaking – a town hall series covering the most talked-about social and political issues. Jonelle is also the owner of DS Traveler - a modern luxury travel company designed for the busy people who deserve a five-star vacation.

In 2017, Jonelle was diagnosed with fibroids, just days before her 40th birthday. At the time they were small and manageable but as time passed, her way of life dramatically changed. In 2019, she underwent a myomectomy and spent over a month in recovery. Jonelle continues to share her fibroid journey to communities to empower and support other fibroid warriors. Jonelle first voiced her pain and progress at a White Dress Project event. It was through this organization where she found a new passion in supporting the advocacy work around Black women's reproductive health.