Member Bio
A native of Oklahoma City, Tanisha graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Master of Arts in Criminal Justice Administration and Management. In 2004, Tanisha relocated to Atlanta, Georgia; wherein, she worked with the Fulton County Department of Family and Children Services, later a therapist and a Program Manager for a nonprofit agency. While in Georgia, Tanisha took the opportunity to work on political campaigns, get out the vote, and canvassing, she has genuine heart for public service.
She decided to further her education and streamline her career narrative to include the profession of human services. She received a third degree from Troy University, a Master of Science in Human Resource Management in 2009. After graduation became an integral organizer for the Troy Alumni Association. From this, she realized her passion and natural gravitas toward human resources, diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, which compelled her to start a consulting company in 2011 and began providing organizational development, DEI programs, and employee relation tools for small business owners.
Upon her relocation back to Oklahoma City, she became a Professor at the University of Central Oklahoma teaching Political Science, Leadership, and First Year Experience courses, also taught Criminal Justice courses at MidAmerica Christian University. Tanisha created a podcast in 2015 “Evening Conversations with Tanisha”, wherein, she released weekly conversations between guests from Oklahoma to Atlanta, GA; ranging from political, social, environmental issues, what it means to attend an HBCU, a vast array of hot topics. It is a great desire of hers to be a catalyst of movement and progressive change. She Founded Women on the Rise Seminars solely with the idea that Black women are present and doing amazing things; she set out to make sure it was seen in Oklahoma.
At present, Tanisha is the Chief of Operations in the Oklahoma Senate office of Senator Dr. George E. Young, Sr., in this position Tanisha is an integral part of public relations, communications, community service, legislative processes, research, writing, training, leadership, and development. Tanisha enjoys organizing community programs, college fairs, town halls, and other events that provide opportunity to leverage opportunities to network and field creatives in social and political arenas. Presently, Tanisha is expanding her business, Woods Premier Consulting, which serves as an engagement tool for business owners, elected officials, executives, and c-suite professionals providing executive coaching, parallel career methods and strategies, succession planning, leadership training, and human resource development.
Tanisha holds membership in several organizations, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Sigma Sigma Omega Chapter where she holds leadership positions: Parliamentarian, Vice Chair of the Social Justice Committee, and State Connections Chair; Society of Human Resource Management, National Black Caucus of State Legislators, President of the National Black Legislative Staff Leadership Council, and former Vice President of the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy Board, Chair of the Advocacy Committee, and graduate of the inaugural 2020 class of the Staff Academy of Governmental Excellence within the Southern Legislative Conference, weekly columnist in the Oklahoma City Herald Newspaper, Georgia Brown Democratic Women Secretary 2021-2022, President-elect 2023-2026; Member of the National Black Professional Lobbyists Association, and was appointed to the Oklahoma County Finance Authority January, 2022-2026.