Nikki Pressley is a native Texan, currently based in Austin and serving as Deputy Director of Right On Crime.

Pressley graduated from the University of North Texas with a B.S. in Human Development and Family Science, and an M.S. in Educational Psychology with a concentration in Family Policy and Program Administration. She previously interned and was quickly promoted to Policy Analyst at the Foundation, where her work centered on child welfare, human trafficking, and juvenile justice. She later went on to serve as Texas State Director and Chief of Staff for Right On Crime.

Pressley was appointed in 2024 by Texas Supreme Court Justice Jimmy Blacklock to the Commission for Lawyer Discipline. She’s also played a key role in advancing significant criminal justice reforms in Texas, including the Damon Allen Act of 2021 and a 2025 constitutional amendment to grant judges the authority to detain violent offenders prior to trial. In addition, she played a significant role in helping to pass legislation ensuring that victims of human trafficking cannot be prosecuted for crimes committed under the control of their traffickers.