Anissa Ray is a leadership and workforce development strategist with more than 20 years of experience advancing equity-centered change across public health, housing, and human service systems. As a consultant with Institute Equity, she partners with organizations to design inclusive leadership pipelines, strengthen organizational learning systems, and build workplace cultures where equity, belonging, and professional growth are embedded in everyday practice.

Anissa currently serves in senior leadership roles at the Boston Public Health Commission, where she directs multiple professional development initiatives supporting a workforce of more than 1,400 employees. She has designed and implemented twelve Emerging Leaders programs that have successfully moved more than half of participants into leadership roles, helping organizations cultivate diverse leadership from within.

Anissa’s work also includes developing large-scale onboarding systems, training and supporting thousands of municipal and community public health service providers, and aligning workforce development initiatives with public health strategy and equity goals. Grounded in adult learning, instructional design, and anti-racist organizational practice, Anissa brings a practical, systems-focused approach to helping institutions build sustainable leadership pathways and equitable workforce systems.