Patrick Cokley

Patrick Cokley joined the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation in 2023 as a senior program officer, Equity & Social Justice Partnerships. As a disability advocate, Patrick has worked to bring issues of inclusion to the forefront of all communities. Patrick comes to RWJF with extensive experience in supporting communities that have been marginalized from the tools and resources they need to fully participate and in creating communities that are supportive of their values and experiences.

In his most recent role as the chief of Organizing Advocacy and Learning at the youth civic organization Civic Influencers, Patrick developed a data-driven leadership and mentoring program designed to give young people the tools and resources to be deliberate participants in the civic process, and ensure that Black, Latino, Asian, Indigenous, LGBTQIA+ and Youth with Disabilities are able to effectively use their civic voice.

He has worked extensively to support the recruitment, retention, and advancement of individuals with disabilities at work and in communities. In a previous role as director of the Workforce Recruitment Program at the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy, Patrick coordinated the largest referral and recruitment program for individuals with disabilities in the federal government as well as engaged Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic Serving Institutions, and Tribal Colleges to engage and support students with disabilities for federal service.

Patrick is a graduate of Howard University and serves on the President’s Board of Advisors for Historically Black Colleges and Universities. He is also a founding member of the Lead On Network, which seeks to spread the word about disability and inclusion. Patrick also regularly speaks on issues related to disability history, pop culture, and disability portrayals in comics, sci-fi, and entertainment media. He finds prepping to speak at comic book conventions harder than speaking at the White House! Originally from South Carolina, Patrick is Low vision and the parent of children with disabilities.