The Fund for American Studies (TFAS) is pleased to welcome Jean Schindler ’06 to its Board of Regents. In this role, she will help support the mission, policies, programs and development work of the TFAS Board of Trustees.
A longtime supporter of TFAS, Schindler first participated in the TFAS Asia program in Hong Kong as a student in 2006. Since then, she has remained actively involved with TFAS, serving as a mentor, intern host and guest speaker for students through programs and events, including the annual Alumni Roundtable.
Schindler currently serves as chief of staff and director of strategic communications at the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), an organization that supports credible elections and accountable governance around the world. In her role, she oversees initiatives related to organizational strategy, operational performance, external engagement and global communications, helping position IFES as a leader on democratic governance and elections globally.
She previously spent eight years at the National Endowment for Democracy, where she established and directed the Penn Kemble Forum on Democracy, a yearlong program for young and mid-level foreign policy professionals to explore the intersection of democracy and geopolitics. She also has extensive experience advising nonprofit start-ups on communications, community building and process development.
With more than a decade of leadership experience in international affairs and organizational strategy, she brings deep expertise in strategic communications, institutional leadership and global civic engagement, making her a strong addition to TFAS’s Board of Regents
Earlier this year, Schindler spoke at the 2026 TFAS Annual Conference, where she reflected on how her TFAS experience helped shape her into the leader she is today.
“As students today prepare for careers in a rapidly changing world, I often reflect on my own experience graduating into the global financial crisis,” Schindler said. “The questions they face about freedom, government and the future of society are complex, but TFAS equips them with the ideas, principles and critical thinking skills needed to engage those questions thoughtfully and independently.”
Most recently, she served as a keynote speaker at the 2026 D.C. Academic Internship Programs Welcome Ceremony at George Mason University. Drawing from her own experience, she encouraged students to make the most of their summer and emphasize the life-changing opportunities that await them.
TFAS Vice President of International Programs and Continuing Education Michelle Le ’95, ’96 said Schindler’s longstanding commitment to TFAS and her dedication to students make her a natural fit for the Board of Regents.
“Jean’s appointment to the Board of Regents is especially meaningful as she marks 20 years as a TFAS supporter,” Le said. “Since beginning her journey as a TFAS student in 2006, she has remained committed to our mission as a donor, volunteer, speaker, mentor and internship sponsor. Jean has always put students first and we’re excited to welcome her to the Board of Regents, where her perspective and dedication will make her a powerful advocate for the next generation of courageous leaders.”
As a member of the Board of Regents, Schindler will help advance TFAS’s mission of preparing students and young professionals for leadership in public policy, journalism and international affairs through the principles of limited government, free-market economics and honorable civic engagement.
TFAS looks forward to Schindler’s continued engagement and leadership in support of its mission to develop courageous leaders. Learn more about the Board of Regents here.