Lana Mendis

Lana Mendis is a transformational leader and justice reform advocate whose work is grounded in lived experience and driven by a profound commitment to systemic change. As the Leadership Admin Coordinator at JustLeadershipUSA, she facilitates high-impact initiatives, bridges communication across leadership and alumni networks, and supports national advocacy efforts that amplify the voices of system-impacted individuals.

Lana is a 2022 Leading with Conviction™ alumna. She also supported reentry and healing through her previous work with Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry’s Chopping for a Change program, which provides culinary training and trauma recovery for incarcerated individuals, and served as a mentor and ambassador for the Prison-to-Professional PhD initiative. She is a member of the National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice.

With nearly two decades of prior leadership experience in finance, including roles at Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, Citibank, and CBOT, Lana brings strategic insight and operational excellence to every endeavor. She holds a B.A. in Leadership & Ministry, an MBA in Organizational Management, and is currently pursuing her Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership at the University of Dayton.

Lana’s journey, from surviving incarceration, abuse, and homelessness to becoming a voice for justice, is a testament to her resilience, purpose, and unwavering belief in redemption and human potential.