With more than 20 years of management, advocacy, and communications experience, Naomi N. Shelton is the chief executive officer of the National Charter Collaborative, a nonprofit organization focused on increasing the diversity and performance of the nation's charter school sector by supporting the success of single-site schools led by leaders of color. National Charter Collaborative's network includes more than 450 charter school leaders of color representing 25 states and the District of Columbia.

Prior to joining National Charter Collaborative, Naomi was the inaugural director of community engagement at the KIPP Foundation, the nonprofit support organization that facilitates the exchange of insights and ideas both within the KIPP network and with partners, including other public schools, nonprofit organizations, and institutions of higher learning. Naomi's appreciation for education leaders of color deepened during her time as the inaugural director of K-12 Advocacy for United Negro College Fund, the nation's largest and most effective minority education organization. At United Negro College Fund, she led national and local engagement efforts focused on messaging and research to ensure more African-American stakeholders are involved and informed to best advocate for Black student college and career readiness. With cross-functional expertise, Naomi has provided operational support, project and crisis management, and public relations counsel to private, public, and nonprofit organizations.

Notably, Naomi spent several years working in Washington, DC's Executive Office of the Mayor and the Office of the Secretary of the District during the administration of Mayor Adrian M. Fenty. There she served as chief of staff for the Office of the Secretary of the District of Columbia, director of the Office of Notary Commissions and Authentications, and special assistant to the Chief of Staff of the Mayor. Preceding her experience with the Government of the District of Columbia, Naomi served as senior associate with Westin Rinehart (acquired by BGR Group), providing marketing and public relations services to clients such as the National Black MBA Association (NBMBAA) and AmeriDream. Naomi also served as both co-campaign manager and press secretary during a 2004 congressional campaign for the first African American female to run for office in Mississippi's Second District.

Naomi began her career as an integral team member with Xenophon Strategies, Inc., a boutique public relations and crisis communications firm. There she managed several operational functions of the firm while providing key media relations and crisis communications counsel, including support surrounding the National Transportation Safety Board investigation of American Airlines Flight 587 to clients such as Bombardier Transportation, Airlines for America (formerly the Air Transport Association), The Fox Foundation and Airbus North America. A long-standing resident of Washington, DC, Naomi recently completed a term as a volunteer member and secretary of the DC Public Charter School Board, appointed by Mayor Muriel Bowser in 2017.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Tougaloo College in Tougaloo, MS, and resides in the Southwest Waterfront neighborhood of the District.