Biography
Hometown: Gaston, North Carolina
Current Career Title: Strategic initiatives analyst, Durham County Government
Ciji Garner is a strategic initiatives analyst for Durham County Government, where she drives strategic planning, innovation and initiatives that create measurable community impact. She plays a key role in advancing the county-wide strategic plan, leads cross-departmental projects and champions efforts that strengthen organizational excellence, equity and civic engagement.
Her leadership and contributions have been recognized with the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) Early Career Professional Award and the National Association of Counties (NACo) Achievement Award.
Garner is also the founder of I Got Your Back, a nonprofit dedicated to mentorship, empowerment and creating pathways to success for underserved communities and emerging professionals.
She is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, and engages in professional organizations including ICMA and the National Forum for Black Public Administrators (NFBPA).
A two-time graduate of North Carolina Central University (NCCU), with a B.A. in Psychology (2014) and an Executive M.P.A. (2024), Garner embodies NCCU’s mission of “Truth and Service.”