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 Policy and Government Affairs Director for the National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum in Washington, DC, guiding the organization's government relations and legislative affairs on policy issues in reproductive health and rights, immigrant rights, and economic justice.

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. During graduate school, she helped lead the Gender Policy Union and volunteered with the Everywoman Everywhere Coalition, a global grassroots movement that aims to end violence against women. She also interned with the Center for Health and Gender Equity (CHANGE), where she tracked US foreign policy on sexual and reproductive health and rights worldwide.

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.