Jaclyn Dean graduated from Rice in 2012 with a BA in Political Science and Sociology and a minor in Poverty, Justice, and Human Capabilities. She currently serves as Director of Congressional Relations for Reproductive Health at the National Partnership for Women & Families, a DC-based advocacy group dedicated to promoting fairness in the workplace and access to quality, affordable health care, including reproductive health. She previously worked at the National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum, where she led the organization's policy and government affairs work on reproductive health and immigrant rights.

Her path from Houston to Washington, DC has taken her around the world.  She worked as a campaign staffer on a state representative campaign in Houston through Annie’s List, which helps elect progressive, pro-choice women to office in Texas. She then served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Morocco, where she ran after-school programs focused on leadership and life skills with adolescent girls in her village. Jaclyn holds a Master in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government specializing in gender, human rights, and international and global affairs. 

In recognition of these achievements, CSWGS is pleased to name Dean the 2020-2021 recipient of our Distinguished Alumna Award, our first PJHC minor to be so honored.