As Senior Director of External Relations & Philanthropy, Nicole Harris-Crest builds and strengthens relationships with national, regional, and local funders to ensure BES’s sustainability and continued success. Nicole joined BES in May 2022.
Before joining BES, Nicole served as an employment litigator, advising clients on their rights and representing them in legal disputes. A passionate advocate for underserved individuals and communities, Nicole has dedicated her career to service. She was previously Chief of External Affairs for the Office of the State’s Attorney for Baltimore City (SAO), where she championed support for crime victims and witnesses, educated the community on the criminal justice system, and implemented preventive measures to reduce crime. Under her leadership, the SAO doubled the use of its support services and increased funding and partnerships for youth and victims of crime.
Prior to her role at the SAO, Nicole was the inaugural Executive Director of the Maryland Alliance of Public Charter Schools (MAPCS). There, she successfully lobbied the Maryland legislature to block harmful legislation against charter schools and advanced policies that increased funding and autonomy for charter schools, providing Maryland students with more quality educational options.
Nicole holds a Juris Doctorate from the University of Baltimore and a bachelor’s degree in Rhetoric and Communications and Leadership Studies from the University of Richmond.
