At twelve years old, Kenya Jordana James, founded Blackgirl Magazine. The only publication owned, operated and dedicated to the representation of African American girls in the media. Kenya is now a public diplomacy coned Foreign Service Officer, who joined the U.S. Department of State in 2015. Before joining the Department, Kenya worked as a press assistant with the U.S. Senate Democratic Policy and Communication Center, an office under the leadership of the late Senator Harry Reid and current Senate Majority Leader Senator Charles Schumer. In 2013, Kenya was awarded the Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Graduate Fellowship. Kenya served her first tour at the U.S. Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; as a Consular Officer, where she adjudicated non-immigrant and immigrant visas. Most recently, Kenya served as the Assistant Public Affairs Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Conakry, Guinea. She specialized in cultural outreach and promoting cultural exchanges between the United States and Guinea through U.S. Embassy programming and initiatives. Now, Kenya is in Burmese language training, in preparation for her next assignment in Thailand. In addition to being selected as a 2022 Aspen Strategy Group Rising Leader, Kenya serves as secretary on the 2022 Pickering-Rangel Fellowship Association Board and a member of the Gathering Spot. Kenya holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Howard University and a Masters in International Affairs from the New School.