Public Servant. Educator. Advocate. Believer.

Tanisha Manning is a native of Southeast Houston whose life and career have been shaped by a commitment to service, community and creating opportunities for others.

A public servant, educator and advocate, Tanisha has spent her career working at the intersection of government, community engagement, public policy and justice.

Today, Tanisha serves as Director of External Affairs for the Harris County District Attorney's Office, where she works to strengthen relationships between the office and the communities it serves. Previously, she spent more than four years serving Harris County through the Office of Commissioner Rodney Ellis, first as a Policy Advisor and later as a Community Affairs Advisor, working on issues including justice and public safety, economic opportunity, and voting rights.

Tanisha is also an adjunct professor at the University of Houston, where she teaches Criminal Justice, and the founder of Engaged Voters, an organization she launched in 2020 to help increase civic knowledge and participation, particularly among young Black voters. Her community involvement has included work focused on civic engagement, young people, equity and expanding access to opportunity.

A graduate of Philander Smith College and Tulane University Law School, Tanisha believes service is about more than holding a title — it's about showing up, listening, bringing people together and doing the work to leave communities stronger than you found them.

Whether in a classroom, a community meeting, a church or a government office, Tanisha remains grounded in her faith and committed to using her experiences, relationships and voice in service to others.