2017 GA Blacks in Technology Policy Conference presenter bio for Regina Lewis-Ward Presentation to Georgia legislators regarding policy and program initiatives to increase the high school graduation rates in Georgians and decrease the shortage of unavailable skilled workers #2017BIT

1. Former Councilwoman Regina Lewis-Ward has more than 20 years of experience in
development, implementation, and review of public and private sector policy initiatives.
Throughout her career, she ensured employee, citizen, and organizational compliance with local,
state, and federal laws, collective bargaining agreements and memorandum of understandings.
She has worked on a multitude of program and policy initiatives such as Family Medical Leave,
vacation and annual leave, Y2K contingencies, and analysis of trends and causes of problems to
anticipate factors which negatively affect absenteeism.
As Chairman of the Stockbridge Public Safety Committee, she led public policy reviews and
recommendations relating to health, safety, and the welfare of citizens. Since 2015, Regina has
conducted presentations in the Midwest and South engaging participants to recognize social
systems, influences on specific groups, and identifying appropriate advocacy strategies to move
communities to the mainstream from marginal.
She previously served in the role of graduation coach under Governor Perdue’s Graduation
Coach Initiative and currently leads the Get Georgia Reading efforts in Henry County aligning
goals with the national Campaign for Grade-Level Reading. Two-thirds of third-graders living in
Georgia are not reading on grade level, bringing long-term negative consequences to families,
communities, and our state. Regina’s 2017 GA Blacks in Technology Policy presentation
includes recommendations for a STEAM Advisory Council and a commitment to fund STEAM
education.
Regina earned a B.B.A. from Bernard M. Baruch College, in computer systems and an M.A.
with a concentration in political science from Clayton State University.