Title
Project Director, Inclusive America Project
Company
Aspen Institute
Bio
Zeenat Rahman is the Project Director of the Inclusive America Project at the Aspen Institute. She is an expert on global youth issues, interfaith and diversity engagement, and is a former diplomat. Zeenat was recently a Presidential Political Appointee, serving as Special Adviser to Secretaries Clinton and Kerry on Global Youth Issues at the U.S. Department of State. In this position, she encouraged foreign governments to respond to youth issues through policy change, and created opportunities for young people to pursue their economic and civic aspirations. She created private sector partnerships focused on youth employment and skills development and worked with U.S. embassies around the world to implement these partnerships. She also served as Director of the Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships at the United States Agency for International Development. Zeenat is a frequent speaker and commentator who has spoken at venues such as the United Nations, the Nobel Peace Prize Forum, and the White House and appeared on CNN, MSNBC, and many international news outlets. She received a master’s degree in Middle East studies from the University of Chicago, and a B.A. in psychology from the University of Illinois.