Donna Harris-Aikens ('90)

Major: Public Administration

Minor: Economics

Graduate Degree: Juris Doctorate, Howard University School of Law

Current job:
Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategy, Office of the Secretary, U.S. Department of Education

Previous professional experience: 
Prior to joining the Administration, I was selected as a member of the Education Agency Review Team for the Biden-Harris Transition and was a member of the DNCC Platform Committee that crafted the values-based guidelines for the party. I also held senior leadership roles with the National Education Association, the Service Employees International Union, and Advance CTE, and was an attorney in an education law firm in Washington DC. I am a member of the Executive Committee of the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention, a member of the Citizens Advisory Committee for the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, and member of the alumni board of the JMU Political Science Department. Previously, I served as a member of the Learning First Alliance and Vice Chair of the Advisory Board for the Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum. 

In what ways did the JMU Political Science Department prepare you for your career?
The department opened my eyes to new possibilities for my career path that I did not envision when I entered JMU as a chemistry major. I found the 'right fit' for me when I switched my major to Public Administration and focused on how government institutions support and affect our communities, and which levers of impact are available to improve lives and strengthen the country. The intricacies of understanding government structures, coupled with my Economics minor, have been invaluable assets throughout my career in the legal, nonprofit, and public sectors. 

Highlights of your JMU experience
In addition to lasting friendships with wonderful people from all walks of life, highlights of my time at JMU include my membership in the Contemporary Gospel Singers, football and basketball games, working in the bookstore, and my internship with the Social Security Administration. 

Advice to students who are studying Political Science, International Affairs, or Public Administration at JMU
Never forget that one person and one voice can make a huge difference by improving the lives of those in the community, state, country, and across the world. Keep imagining, creating, and learning so that your dreams become reality!