Jean Schindler serves as Chief of Staff for the Muslim American Leadership Alliance (MALA), a national organization committed to promoting individual freedom and diversity, and to celebrating Muslim American heritage. She has over a decade of experience driving organizational growth and strategic collaboration, as well as extensive experience building and facilitating mentorship and professional development programs in North America, Europe, and east Asia. Immediately prior to joining MALA, she served on the Public Affairs team at the National Endowment for Democracy, where she established the Penn Kemble Forum on Democracy. During that time, she also oversaw the establishment of the Ladies DC Mentorship program. She is also the founder of the Emergent Leaders Network, which provides microscholarships to community college students. Originally from southern California, Jean graduated summa cum laude from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), received a certificate in Political and Economic Systems of Organization from Hong Kong University, and received a masters degree in diplomatic history from the London School of Economics.