Keri Zolman

Deputy Director, Women’s Democracy Network

Areas of Expertise
Conflict Prevention and Stabilization
Experts
Leadership Team
Political Inclusion
Women’s Democracy Network
Women’s Political Leadership and Gender Equality

Keri Zolman is the Deputy Director for the International Republican Institute’s (IRI) dedicated initiative to promote women’s civic and political participation and leadership, the Women’s Democracy Network (WDN).

Through WDN, Keri directs a global portfolio that advances Women, Peace and Security, funded by the National Endowment for Democracy, the Department of State’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Across the Institute, Keri serves as a subject matter expert and technical lead, providing technical direction and hands-on support, ensuring gender equality and inclusion are effectively integrated within democracy, rights and governance research and programs. Before transitioning to a global portfolio with WDN in 2018, Keri managed programs to advance inclusive political party development, civic education and democratic governance in Morocco, Western Sahara, and the West Bank and Gaza. Keri also worked in grants administration for the Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening, funded by USAID; managed Amnesty International’s human rights education program in Washington, D.C. public schools; undertook primary research on the peace negotiations in Quibdó and Bogota, Colombia; and had professional stints in Somalia, Kenya, and France. Keri received her Master’s in international economics and conflict management at John’s Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and studied political science (electoral engineering and comparative politics) and gender studies at Michigan State University.