Bio

Karyne Jones is President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Caucus and Center on Black Aging, Inc. (NCBA) and NCBA Housing Management and Development Corporation. During its fifty-two-year history, NCBA has been the only national organization devoted solely to providing effective leadership in making minority participation in aging services a national issue and priority.

Prior to becoming NCBA's chief executive officer, Karyne was Executive Director of Federal Relations with SBC Telecommunications, Inc., (now ATT) based in Washington, D.C. where she lobbied members of Congress on telecommunications issues and policies. She also represented the company's corporate political action committee with national political organizations.

Karyne's previous Capitol Hill experience includes Legislative Aide to Congressman Andrew Young. During his tenure as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, she became his Public Affairs Officer and White House Liaison. A native of San Antonio, she returned to Texas, began her own political career, and became active on numerous boards, commissions and civic projects involved in issues on education, civil rights, environmental and economic development.

Karyne served for eight years in the Texas Legislature representing District 120 in San Antonio. During her tenure, she served on the Appropriations, State-Federal Relations, Corrections and Urban Affairs committees. She also served as Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus and was a member of the Black and Mexican American Legislative Caucuses. Prior to her election to the Texas House of Representatives, she was first African American elected to the school board of the East Central Independent School District serving two terms.

Karyne is a graduate of Clark Atlanta University where she received her bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Northern Illinois University with a master’s degree in Public Affairs. She earned a second master’s degree in Public Administration from Harvard University. She currently serves on the national Board of Directors of the Alzheimer’s Association, Generations United, Center for Innovation, Inc., and Immediate Past Chair of the Board of Directors for the American Society on Aging, becoming the first African American female to lead the national professional aging organization. Karyne was honored in recent years with the Washington Brava! Award by SmartCEO Magazine as a top Female CEO and nationally recognized in Next Avenue Magazine Influencer in Aging. Her alma mater, Northern Illinois University honored her as a Distinguished Alumnus. She remains a sought-after expert on aging issues specifically in improving the quality of life of older adults that are most vulnerable.

NCBA is the largest minority focused organization in the country and is recognized as the national leader in senior housing, employment, health, and advocacy on behalf of older adults of color.