Deanna Carrithers is the Executive Vice President for Operations at the Center for Policing Equity. She was initially appointed Deputy Senior Vice President for Justice Initiatives and served as Chief of Staff at CPE. Over the past 17 years, Deanna has had a distinguished career in public service, including local government, non-profit, and educational institutions. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Kansas and a Master of Public Administration from the Hugo Wall School of Public Affairs at Wichita State University. Deanna is also a doctoral student at Wichita State University pursuing a degree in Educational Leadership with an anticipated graduation date in July 2025.

Prior to her appointment, she served as Chief Equity and Diversity Officer for Tompkins County in upstate New York. In this role, Deanna served as a strategic leader and thought partner for local government and the community. At Wichita State University, she served as Director of Operations for the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement as the liaison to the Vice President and Chief Diversity Office. She has provided operational leadership for multiple departments, including oversight of a division budget of more than $15 million, including the President’s Diversity Council, TRIO/GEAR UP, Wichita GEAR UP, Military and Veterans Services, Army ROTC, Public Policy and Management Center, and Office of Community Engagement and Opportunity. Deanna also co-facilitated courses in Women’s and Ethnic Studies while leading extensive efforts to secure grant, contract, and philanthropic funding.

Deanna is a graduate of the International City/County Management Emerging Leaders Program. She is a proud native of Wichita, Kansas, and served as a volunteer for the City of Wichita Police Department and as a member of the Sedgwick County Community Corrections Advisory Board for more than 10 years.  Deanna also received the 2016 Wichita Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 Award and President’s Distinguished Service Award at Wichita State. Deanna volunteered for the Council of University Women, the African American Faculty and Staff Association, and numerous other non-profits in the Wichita community. Between 2021-2023, Deanna served as a Flora Rose House Fellow at Cornell University. Also, she served as an Executive-In-Residence for the Executive Masters of Public Administration Program for the Cornell Institute of Public Affairs in the Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy. She was also an Associate Member of the Chief of Staff Association.