Annie Mathews is a highly-educated professional with an extensive background in law, public administration, and social and urban policy. She earned her Doctor of Law (JD) from NYU School of Law, her Master of Public Administration (MPA) with a focus on social and urban policy from Harvard University Kennedy School of Government, and her BA from Wesleyan University's College of Social Studies.

Mathews began her legal career as a Law Clerk at the Orleans Public Defenders and later worked as a Legal Intern at Immigration Law Unit at Legal Aid Society, Family Economic Security at National Women's Law Center, Immigration Team at The Bronx Defenders, and a Legal Fellow at the Reproductive Freedom Project at the ACLU. She also worked as an Immigration Defense Attorney at Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem and a Student Advocate at Make the Road NY's Litigation, Organizing, and Systemic Change Clinic.

Additionally, Mathews worked as a Reporting Fellow at News21 and a Women Connected Manager at CEO Women. Her diverse work experiences have given her expertise in immigration law, criminal trial law, public defense, reproductive rights, economic security, and women's issues.