Dr. DaVonti’ DeAngelo Haynes is the Founder and Principal Strategist of Re/val Strategies and an Emmy® Award-winning scholar-practitioner focused on helping communities and institutions strengthen opportunity through research, evaluation, and community-rooted strategies. At Re/val, DaVonti’ leads our strategic outreach, as well as youth disconnection and engagement work, supporting partners and clients in moving from insight to actionable community change.

DaVonti' has over a decade of experience across higher education, K-12 education, social service systems and placed-based practice. His work includes years of work in juvenile justice settings in Ohio supporting recidivism reduction and youth transition back to the community, alongside research and strategy work spanning urban, rural, and Appalachian communities across numerous states focused on developing and implementing education and workforce opportunity programs.

He has developed and implemented numerous programs in partnership with institutions of higher education, K-12 school districts, and community partners; conducted research on youth experiencing disconnection; and partnered with local social service providers, nonprofits, and public and private organizations with the goal of leveling the playing field for all youth.

DaVonti’ specializes in qualitative research and community-engaged learning, with expertise in youth development, college and career readiness, civic engagement, and the experiences of young people navigating disconnection. He has led and co-led national and regional studies, facilitated advisory processes that connect evidence to decision-making, and supported program development designed to strengthen community safety and youth engagement.

An educator and community builder, DaVonti’ has served as an assistant extension educator at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, an assistant professor of social work at Temple University in Philadelphia, and an associate professor of social work at Wayne State University in Detroit. Throughout his work, he has worked alongside urban, rural, and Appalachian communities throughout Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Tennessee, Kentucky, Nebraska, West Virginia, Louisiana, Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Alaska.

Born in Detroit and raised in Cleveland, DaVonti’ is a first-generation college student. He earned his bachelor’s degree in public affairs (specialization: education policy), an MSW (specialization: children and youth services), a Master of Science in agricultural communication, education, and leadership (specialization: extension & community education), and a PhD in agricultural communication, education, and leadership (specialization: educational administration), all from The Ohio State University.