A native of Clifton, Virginia, Kristen is Program Coordinator for the Jefferson Institute office in Washington, DC, bringing a decade of experience in education, international relations and entrepreneurism to our outreach and development initiatives in the US.

As a consultant for Washington’s Center City Public Charter Schools – which educates 350 at-risk inner city youth – Kristen administered school-wide assessments and served as a classroom teacher. Prior to Center City, Kristen worked as an assistant to the Saudi ambassador in the Kingdom’s US embassy, where her varied duties included assisting the Office of Foreign Affairs with congressional appointments, writing diplomatic correspondence to the US State Department, and organizing fund raising projects and special events. Kristen also is co-founder of a small business in Washington, Bikram Yoga Capitol Hill.

Area of interest: digital media , emerging platforms, design, social networks and branding

Biljana is adapting current and emerging technologies for use in education and research. She has a vast experience in international business, nonprofit finance, marketing, PR and business development.

She is the author of the books, Textile Industry in Serbia, 2004 and Fruit and Vegetables 2006: Competitiveness of Serbian Economy; as well as many other analytical works on the business climate in central and eastern Europe.

Biljana received a BA from Belgrade University and finished a MA and conducted doctoral work at Charles University in Prague. She served as Market Representative for May Merchandising Company in Eastern and Central Europe, and also worked for the East West Institute in Prague.