Jana Kiser
Wellesley College
University of Limerick (UL)
Education
Based in San Francisco, Jana is the CEO of Libertiva, a consulting firm dedicated to social justice, peace and equity. Prior to her own consulting work, Jana served as the Executive Director of Redwood City 2020, a collaboration between a number of organizations in the social services sector to address challenges faced by young people and families in the city. The centerpiece of Redwood City 2020 is a group of community schools that offer on-campus social services, such as healthcare, immigration support, legal advice and nutrition, in addition to education. A 2004 Mitchell Scholar, Jana received a Master's Degree in International Studies from the University of Limerick. Her thesis examined cultural globalization. Jana examined the idea that culture is a fluid concept and when two different cultures encounter each other, in the context of greater globalization, it is possible for both to share power and evolve in a mutually beneficial way. Jana previously founded Global Learning International, a non-profit which uses education programs to help alleviate poverty in the US, Costa Rica and Nicaragua. She will also continue to work on international education initiatives, something that has been a constant feature of her career. Jana obtained her undergraduate degree from Wellesley College.