Kiana Jackson (she/her) serves as the Director of Data and Research at New Disabled South and New Disabled South Rising and co-leads The Black Disability Institute, where she works at the intersection of disability justice, data equity, increasing visibility of disabled researchers, and grassroots power-building. With a deep commitment to uplifting marginalized communities, Kiana brings over seven years of experience in community organizing, data analytics, and policy research. Her work is grounded in a vision of liberation that prioritizes the leadership, knowledge, and resilience of historically disenfranchised communities.

Kiana’s data and research insights directly supported statewide, local and national campaigns by identifying key areas for voter outreach and mobilization—shaping resource allocation strategies that contributed to historic voter engagement in rural communities. She has served as a Data Consultant and Strategist for a range of political campaigns and nonprofit organizations, offering data-informed solutions that drive equitable outcomes.

Kiana’s impact has been recognized nationally—she was featured in Essence magazine’s powerful article, “Answering The Call: 15 Black Women Leading The Fight For Voting Rights Protection,” highlighting her leadership and data justice work in the South.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Albany State University and a Master of Science in Data Analytics and Policy from Johns Hopkins University. Kiana currently resides in Tallahassee, Florida, where she continues to advocate for systems transformation through the lens of disability justice, racial equity, and community-centered research