Tonja Khabir is the Executive Director of the Griffith Family Foundation, where she is working to design and implement a social justice framework for community-centered grant-making. Ms. Khabir is a 2019 PLACES Fellow for equity, diversity and inclusion in Philanthropy with The Funder’s Network.
As a community relations and public health specialist, Ms. Khabir managed and supported teams in East & Southern Africa, enhancing health and development in vulnerable communities with organizations like USAID, University of Western Cape and the International Organization for Migration.
Her experience with international development led her to found a non-profit in Macon, Two Hands International, which empowered underrepresented youth through international exposure, community engagement and global leadership.
Ms. Khabir is a member of the 2018 Changing Faces of Philanthropy Cohort with the Young Black and Giving Back Institute. She was also named a 2018 Emerging Cities Champion with 8 80 Cities/John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and a 2018 Emerging Leader by NewTown Macon’s Partners in Progress.
She is also a founding partner of Urbane: Young Black Professionals Network of Central Georgia and serves on several boards and committees in Macon-Bibb including the ONE Macon Steering Committee, the United Way Central Georgia Strategic Planning Task Force and the Board of Governors with the Grand Opera House.
Ms. Khabir holds a B.A. in Sociology from Fisk University and a Master’s of Public Health from Morehouse School of Medicine.
Wesleyan's 2019 Commencement ceremony will take place on Saturday, May 11th at 10 a.m. in Porter Auditorium.