Tiffany Gillis Brown, Esq.

Founder and CEO

Tiffany Gillis Brown was born in Washington, DC and grew up in neighboring Prince George’s County, Maryland. She studied Biology and Religion at Duke University. After completing her undergraduate studies, Tiffany started Gillis Education as a way to give back to her community in a meaningful way. Being the daughter of an educator, and coming from a long line of educators, she has always had a passion for education and mentoring. She saw a great need for targeted, out-of-school interventions to help students on their academic journeys, whether it was high-impact tutoring, creating educational programs and products tailored to students and their families, or providing skilled yet compassionate special education advocacy services. Since founding the company in 2011, Gillis Education continues to grow and evolve to meet the immediate needs of its clients. Gillis Education not only serves students and families, but partners with educational institutions and more broadly advocates for legal and policy changes that will reform the nation’s educational system for the better.

Tiffany earned her Juris Doctor from The George Washington University Law School and focuses her efforts on civil rights law and its intersection with critical areas like education, health care, and technology (including AI and privacy rights). Tiffany has an Advanced Certificate in College Advising from Columbia University. Tiffany is also a member of the American Bar Association (ABA), the National Bar Association, and the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA). She is licensed to practice law in the District of Columbia.

Joi Nelson, Esq.

Special Education Advocate

Driven by her experience as the mother of a son with a disability who recently graduated from college, Joi turned her passion for celebrating differences and empowering students to thrive into reality. Over the years, she has not only successfully navigated the special education process with her son in both private and public school settings, but she has also helped other students, from kindergarten to college, unlock their potential by obtaining the special education assistance they needed.

Joi is a passionate advocate, licensed attorney (DC), certified Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) specialist, mediator, trainer, and Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) Administrator with a background in human resources, DEI, business law, equal employment, and training. She is actively involved in various organizations dedicated to promoting equity and equality.

Sofia Rios

Consultant

Christine Wilson

Business Development Intern

Christine Wilson was born in Germany and spent part of her childhood there before growing up in California. She is a senior at the University of Notre Dame, where she studies Business Analytics and Philosophy. Christine has always been passionate about working with nonprofits and mission-driven organizations, a commitment that began early and has grown throughout her college years. In her free time, she enjoys exploring local coffee shops, hiking along the California coast, and painting watercolors as a way to journal.

At Notre Dame, Christine joined the Institute for Social Concerns as a RISE intern, a pre-orientation program that immerses students in issues of justice and community engagement. This experience deepened her dedication to ethical community engagement and nonprofit collaboration. She later served as a consultant with Students Consulting for Nonprofits, partnering with local organizations to strengthen their operations and expand their impact. Christine brings her passion and experience to her work at Gillis Education, where she aims to advance its mission and create meaningful change for the communities it serves.