Jabari O. Simama, Ph.D.

Jabari O. Simama, Ph.D. serves as the Chief of Staff for DeKalb County.  Jabari has more than 20 years of management experience, including 14 years as an elected and appointed official.  He most recently worked as the Chief Community and Economic Development Officer for Benedict College in Columbia, SC.

Prior to Benedict College, Jabari served as Executive Director for the City of Atlanta's Office of Community Technology, where he managed the mayor's initiatives to address the education and workforce related digital divide.  Prior to this position, Jabari served as the City of Atlanta's Director of Communications.  Jabari also served as an appointed member of the Metropolitan Atlanta Olympic Games Authority (MAOGA), the state authority that oversaw the 1996 Olympic Games committee, where he provided oversight of the organizing committee's $2 billion budget.  Jabari holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Bridgeport, a master's degree from Atlanta University (now Clark Atlanta University), and a doctoral degree from Emory University.

Department Summary - Office of the Chief of Staff

The Office of the Chief of Staff provides guidance and leadership to the CEO on legislative, stimulus funding opportunities, and political issues and serves as the liaison to the public and private sectors in fostering partnerships and the development of initiatives that support and create opportunities for the community.  This office also provides supervision and policy direction as it pertains to external organizations, such as ARC, MARTA, Grady, Constituent Services, International Relations, and Boards/Commission/Authorities.  The Office of the Chief of Staff also serves as the liaison for the CEO to DeKalb and Decatur Boards of Education and Municipalities with-in the County.