Prior to Confidently, Déanna served as assistant program coordinator at Vital Village Networks, where she worked to develop national programs and conferences advocating for child, family, and community well-being.
Déanna gained intergovernmental experience at the International Code of Conduct Association (ICoCA), working with governments, private security companies, and civil society organizations to ensure the promotion of the International Code of Conduct for Private Security, human rights, and international humanitarian law. She also drafted reports on the actions of member organizations and collaborated with legal experts to create guidelines on preventing and addressing sexual exploitation. In this role, she aided the representation of ICoCA at United Nations–led events.
Déanna holds a B.A. in international relations from Boston University.