Jotaka L. Eaddy is a dedicated and seasoned policy advocate with more than 15 years experience.
Jotaka currently serves as Head of Governement Affairs for LendUp, a venture backed financial technology company.
Within her capacity, Ms. Eaddy represents LendUp’s regulartory and legislative initiatives at the federal and state level. Additionally Ms. Eaddy’s portfolio includes strategic partnerships with community leaders, elected officials, and other key stakeholders.
Ms. Eaddy has traveled extensively, serving as a guest lecturer and strategist on human rights and progressive policy reform at various institutions and universities covering 49 states and 25 countries. She has lobbied within various international forums including the United Nations Human Rights Council, the Organization of American States, and Council of Europe, among others.
Prior to her role at LendUp, Jotaka served as Senior Vice President of Government Affairs for PayNearMe, Inc.
She also served as Senior Advisor to the President and CEO and Senior Director for Voting Rights for the NAACP. Within that capacity she directed external affairs and strategic initiatives on behalf of the Office of the President and CEO and led the NAACP’s strategy to defend and expand access to the ballot box.
In 2004 she directed the national lobby and international advocacy campaign against the juvenile death penalty in the United States. Those efforts contributed to the 2005 landmark US Supreme Court decision Roper v. Simmons which abolished the juvenile death penalty in the United States.
As a student at the University of South Carolina Ms. Eaddy was elected Student Body President, becoming the first black woman to be elected to the position in the University of South Carolina’s 213 year history.
