Michele Jawando is an attorney, public policy expert, social justice advocate, familypreneur and tech futurist with a lifelong dedication to public service. She currently works with Google’s public policy team, where she leads the organization’s U.S. progressive engagement. Her duties include developing strategic relationships and partnerships with nonprofits, think tanks, elected officials and thought leaders across the U.S.
Jawando previously was vice president of the progressive think tank Center for American Progress (CAP), where she also served as co-host of the organization’s nationally recognized political news podcast Thinking CAP. Prior to that, she worked as general counsel and senior advisor to U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D- NY), during which time she spearheaded some of the office’s landmark efforts, including the passage of the 9/11 health bill, repeal of the Armed Forces’ Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy, and confirmations of Supreme Court Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan.
A regular commentator for MSNBC, Fox News and CNN, Jawando is a sought-after voice and has been interviewed and quoted numerous times by national print and radio media, including The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Baltimore Sun, The Associated Press, C-SPAN and National Public Radio.