Justene (she/her) serves as Director of Human Resources at NFF, overseeing all aspects of human resources and building people-first strategies that support NFF’s mission. A proud native of El Barrio in East Harlem, she channels her community experience into creating pathways for organizational and individual growth.
Throughout her progressive career spanning technology and public sectors, Justene has developed deep expertise in HR operations, regulatory compliance, and strategic workforce planning. Beginning as a recruiter, she advanced to leadership roles designing global immigration policies, streamlining hiring processes, and guiding teams through complex organizational changes. Her diverse experience spans from opening a Success Academy school in the Bronx to building systems from the ground up at high-growth startups like WeWork.
Justene holds SHRM certification and earned her Master of Arts in elementary education from Columbia University and Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Quinnipiac University. She has presented at industry conferences, including AfroTech, demonstrating her commitment to opening doors for others. She’s passionate about building HR functions that enable NFFers to grow professionally and succeed in their work.