People
I always ask my clients who have included philanthropies, think tanks, and major NGOs—how can an innovative policy idea, tool or product have a positive impact on peoples’ lives if people don’t know that it exists? This is why I’ve built my academic and professional career around working to raise awareness of ground-breaking policies and resources that help deepen the conversation on some of the most important social issues of our time. Whether it has been through tutoring in DC-public schools, volunteering with community development organizations abroad, or working to encourage young people to become more engaged in the political process, my work at Widmeyer allows me to blend my passions in life—writing, creativity and social cause advocacy to develop effective results-oriented campaigns for our clients.
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Biography:
Rachel Zaentz is a senior account manager in Widmeyer’s PreK-12 education practice. She brings an understanding of effective communications around education and other policy issues to Widmeyer’s clients.
Prior to joining Widmeyer, Zaentz worked at the communications firm GMMB. As a member of GMMB’s education team, she primarily provided communications planning and support for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s education programs. While there, Zaentz also worked on behalf of UNICEF, the Global Alliance to Prevent Prematurity and Stillbirth, the United Nations Development Programme and the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Previously, Zaentz worked at The Century Foundation, where she helped conduct research on the correlation between poverty and student achievement and publicized the Foundation’s publications, events and youth engagement programs.
Zaentz graduated with honors from American University’s School of International Service with a bachelor’s degree in International Studies. During college she had the opportunity to volunteer with a local school in Nairobi, Kenya where she created additional weekend and after-school programming initiatives, conducted home-visits and provided the organization with grant writing technical assistance. Zaentz was selected to participate in the 2011-2012 Washington DC Education Policy and Fellowship (DC EPFP) program.
Contact information:
- 1129 20th St NW, Suite 200,
Washington, DC 20036
Phone 202.667.0901
Fax 202.667.0902
