Conisha Hackett-Brumfield serves as the Chief of Staff to the Deputy Assistant Secretary in the U.S. Office for Civil Rights.
Hackett-Brumfield first joined the United States Department of Agriculture in November 2021 where she has served as the Senior Policy Advisor for Equity at the Farm Service Agency (FSA). Hackett Brumfield’s deep experience in civil rights and social justice issues stems from her dedication to and passion for people. Since the age of 7, she has been an active, life and subscribing life member of the NAACP. It was through the legacy and leadership of stalwarts of the modern movement that Mrs. Hackett-Brumfield kick-started her career as an activist seeking to secure justice and equity for underserved, unserved, and marginalized communities – a career that realizes her purpose and passion.
At FSA, Hackett-Brumfield’s portfolio consisted of all things equity with a lens toward strategic management, cultural transformation, human capital professional development and enhancement, and workplace transparency and accountability. Prior to joining FSA, she served as a Vetting Attorney both at the White House and on the Biden-Harris Transition team. In these roles, she facilitated, compiled, and conducted in-depth policy and personnel research and analysis to identify and provide risk assessments to senior leadership regarding potential Cabinet and sub-cabinet-level presidential appointees.
Prior to joining the Biden-Harris Transition team, Hackett-Brumfield first gained a background in Ag law and policy during her time as a Research Analyst at the Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers (SDFR) Policy Research Center located at Alcorn State University. It was at the Policy Center that Hackett-Brumfield began working on policies that affected historically underserved producers to ensure equity in the drafting, implementation, and dissemination of USDA policies and procedures.
She graduated from the University of Mississippi School of Law, where she excelled in various local, state, and national leadership and advocacy positions. While pursuing her law degree, Hackett-Brumfield clerked for Judge Bernice Donald of the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in Memphis, Tennessee, and had the esteemed pleasure of clerking for the United States Senate Judiciary Committee in the Office of Senator Cory A. Booker in Washington, D.C. She also honed many of her advocacy skills during her time as Research Assistant for Dean Michelle Alexandre, law clerk at Alexander Law, PA in Jackson, Mississippi, and through the MacArthur Justice Clinic housed at the law school.
Hackett-Brumfield earned her Bachelor of Arts in History from the historic Tougaloo College and her Master of Arts in History from Mississippi State University. She is a native of Summit, Mississippi. Her favorite pastimes include adventures with her husband, Marcus Isaiah Brumfield (TC ‘15), debating her mom, Jennifer, dad, Richard, and brother, Dr. Montoya Taylor (TC ‘04) and annoying her nephews, Elijah, Ezekiel, and Ezra.
