Lucretia Murphy is an associate vice president at JFF and director of the Center for Justice and Economic Advancement. Her work focuses on people and places—developing integrated strategies that increase economic opportunity for individuals and economic prosperity for communities—with a focus on economic mobility for individuals who have been involved with the criminal justice system. Her work emphasizes racial equity, with approaches that confront structural racism and other forms of bias in institutional and systemic policies, practices, and processes.

Previously, Murphy was executive director of the See Forever Foundation, which operates the Maya Angelou Public Charter Schools in Washington, D.C. She oversaw the operations of four schools that put young people on trajectories for achievement—an alternative middle school, a high school, a school for young adults ages 16-24, and a school in a juvenile facility. Murphy also served on committees with community leaders to develop policies to support the success of young people. 

Murphy is a member of the Boards of Child Trends and Break Free Education. She is a passionate speaker on many topics, including the economic advancement of young people, adult learners seeking their first credentials, and individuals who have been—or currently are—incarcerated. She also speaks on the importance of confronting race in society, systems, institutions, and artificial intelligence technologies so that all people can fully realize prosperity and equal opportunity. She is the mother of two boys and enjoys chasing her sons, traveling, and reading (or keeping lists of books to read).