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Jennifer Van der Heide
Vice President, Advocacy + Engagement
Jennifer Van der Heide is a highly experienced professional with a background spanning federal, state, and local legislative, legal, electoral, and policy realms in both public and private sectors.
She served as Chief of Staff to notable Members of Congress like Deb Haaland and Mike Honda, and later as Chief of Staff and Senior Counselor to U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, the first Native American to hold a Cabinet Secretary position.
Jennifer excels as a strategic leader, having held key roles such as Political Director and Chief Strategist, and is skilled in coalition-building, developing legislative strategies, and managing media outreach.
She places great importance on mentoring women and communities of color, with a dedication to serving the Native American community through legal, advocacy, and political endeavors.
Jennifer's adept management and social intelligence skills have enabled her to establish strong relationships within political circles, particularly with congressional delegations, Native American Leadership, and various Caucus communities.
With a solid educational foundation that includes a Juris Doctor focusing on public interest law from UC Law San Francisco and a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from Tufts University, Jennifer has honed her expertise in the legal and policy domains.
Her contributions have been widely recognized, including awards for her service and transformative role in the lives of Afro-Colombians, highlighting her significant impact on various communities.
Throughout her career, Jennifer has held key positions in prestigious organizations like IllumiNative Org and Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum, showcasing her commitment to advocacy and policy engagement.
Highlights
“No other Cabinet secretary in American history has done as much as Secretary Haaland to conserve our nation’s land and waters and to enable Tribal and Indigenous communities to lead that work.”
https://lnkd.in/egKET7DM
I am thrilled to share that I’m joining the amazing IllumiNative.Org as their Chief of Staff. Check out their powerful social movement and advocacy work. Having worked alongside IllumiNative in the past, I know what an honor it is to join their team.
