Lanisha Bell

The Mississippi Coalition Against Domestic Violence (MCADV) has named Lanisha G. Bell as its Chief Executive Officer, marking a significant moment in the organization’s 46-year history and beginning a new chapter of leadership for Mississippi’s statewide domestic violence coalition.

Bell is the first Tribal member and Mississippi Choctaw to lead MCADV since its founding. She brings more than 20 years of experience in executive leadership, victim services, program development, organizational capacity building, technical assistance, grants management, policy development, and community engagement.

“Leading MCADV is both an honor and a responsibility that I take very seriously. This Coalition has a 46-year legacy built by survivors, advocates, shelter programs, community partners, and leaders who believed Mississippi could—and must—do better for victims of domestic violence. My responsibility is to honor that foundation while helping position MCADV for its next chapter,” said Bell.

Rebecca Stewart, Executive Director of the Domestic Family Abuse Shelter in Hattiesburg, has worked with the Mississippi Coalition for more than 20 years.

“I am blown away by Lanisha’s credentials, especially her work on the federal level and her extensive experience in victim services. I believe Lanisha will take the Coalition to a whole new level,” said Stewart.

Bell’s career has taken her from communities across Mississippi to the United Nations, the U.S. Department of Justice, the Department of the Interior, and the White House. She has led complex programs and multidisciplinary teams, overseen multimillion-dollar initiatives, strengthened organizations, and built partnerships across local, regional, state, Tribal, federal, national, and international systems. As a Lay Advocate for the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, she has worked to protect victims of domestic abuse.

Bell has served as a U.S. Advisor to the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and as a member of the White House Senior Policy Operating Group. She is an Ambassador for Americans for Indian Opportunity and a 40 Under 40 Award recipient from the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development.

At MCADV, Bell will lead this statewide organization in supporting Mississippi’s member shelter programs through training and technical assistance, advocating for policies that protect survivors, and advancing prevention and public awareness efforts across the state.