Executive Assistant to the Executive Director
Jennifer is the executive assistant to the McCain Institute's Executive Director, Dr. Evelyn Farkas. She works as a strategic partner with the executive leadership team and liaises with the Institute’s board of trustees. Prior to joining the McCain Institute, Jennifer served as a program officer for East Asia and the Pacific at the International Republican Institute (IRI), where she worked on the Mongolia and Asia Regional Youth portfolios. She managed and implemented programs focused on political party strengthening, religious freedom, and the inclusion of women and youth in politics. She joined IRI in 2018 as the executive assistant to the President, where she worked closely with IRI’s executive leadership team and board of directors, and helped manage IRI’s annual Freedom Award event.
Prior to her tenure at IRI, Jennifer held various positions with trade organizations and policy advocacy groups. She began her career as a staff member for Congressman Darrell Issa (CA) in the United States House of Representatives.
Jennifer’s areas of expertise include great power competition and U.S. foreign policy, advancing democratic values, and advocating for women’s political participation, leadership, and representation around the world.
She holds an M.A. in international relations with a concentration in U.S. foreign policy and national security from American University's School of International Service, a graduate certificate of public administration from Clemson University, and a B.A. in government from Sweet Briar College.
