Andrea Irby, M.A. | Founder & Director, P.A.L.S.

Andrea Irby is the Founder and Director of P.A.L.S. (Prisoner Advocacy Literary Services), bringing more than 25 years of experience working with justice-impacted individuals and their families. Her work has spanned advocacy, rehabilitative guidance, counseling support, life-skills development, reentry preparation, recovery services, and family acclimation. Throughout her career, she has served individuals within correctional institutions, halfway houses, recovery environments, and community-based programs, developing a deep understanding of the personal, emotional, social, and systemic challenges that can accompany incarceration and the journey toward successful reintegration.

Ms. Irby's commitment to P.A.L.S. is rooted in a fundamental belief that a person's worst decision, most difficult season, or involvement with the criminal justice system should not automatically determine the remainder of that person's life. She is particularly passionate about advocating for individuals who are nonviolent, actually innocent, rehabilitated, or serving sentences that warrant meaningful reconsideration. Her work reflects a commitment to both justice and accountability, recognizing the capacity for human beings to grow, transform, rebuild, and contribute meaningfully to their families and communities when given equitable opportunities and appropriate support.

Her educational and military backgrounds strengthen the multidimensional perspective she brings to this work. Ms. Irby holds a Master of Arts in Human Services Counseling with a concentration in Crisis Response and Trauma, a Master of Arts in Human Resource Development, a Bachelor of Arts in Human Resource Management, an Associate of Applied Science in Social Services, and an Associate of Applied Science in Education and Training. She also served 26 years in the United States Air Force through Active Duty and National Guard service, an experience that sharpened her decision-making, leadership, discipline, situational awareness, mission focus, and ability to work effectively with people from diverse backgrounds and under complex circumstances. As a disabled veteran, she also brings a deeply personal understanding of resilience, adaptation, service, and the importance of seeing the whole person beyond a single circumstance or limitation. Her professional experience further includes peer recovery training and supervision, curriculum development, higher education instruction, life coaching, and trauma-informed support.

As Director of P.A.L.S., Ms. Irby leads with compassion, discernment, integrity, and an unwavering passion for freedom and second chances. Her leadership is both people-focused and mission-driven, reflecting the values cultivated throughout her military, academic, professional, and community service. She believes effective advocacy must extend beyond calling attention to injustice. It must also create pathways toward restoration, education, personal responsibility, employability, and sustainable reentry. Through P.A.L.S., she works to ensure that justice-impacted individuals are seen as whole human beings with stories, families, abilities, aspirations, and futures still capable of being written. Her leadership embodies the organization's guiding commitment: Unlocking Potential, Advancing Justice.

OUR BOARD
 

Iesha Rosenboro | Maryland | Behavioral Health Nonprofit Executive

Sheila Miller | North Carolina | Tax & Accounting Entrepreneur

Djuna Hunter | North Carolina | Retired Government Professional

Tiffany Ford | Maryland | Healthcare Administration Professional