Jay serves as the Agency’s lead to elevate issues concerning lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and other people of diverse genders and sexualities (LGBTQI+). In this role, he works to meaningfully integrate LGBTQI+ people into USAID’s inclusive development programs, policies, research and training. Most recently, he was the Engagement and Communications Advisor in the Center for Education at USAID.

Previously, Jay served as the Director of the Global program at the Human Rights Campaign (HRC). During his time at HRC, Jay successfully organized four annual Global Innovative Advocacy Summits, created an active alumni network of 180+ advocates from over 90 countries, and trained dozens of advocates from every region of the world on LGBTQ advocacy.

He served in the Obama administration at USAID where he worked on program policy, public engagement and communications, particularly on the Agency’s LGBTQI+ and food security work. Jay also worked at the Aga Khan Foundation U.S.A. in Washington, DC and Peace Boat Japan in Tokyo.

Jay grew up in Arlington, Texas before leaving the Lone Star state for Amherst College in Massachusetts to get his B.A. in political science. He did his graduate studies on a Rotary Fellowship, earning an M.A. in peace studies at International Christian University in Tokyo, Japan.

Jenn Williamson leads a team of advisors in developing and implementing ACDI/VOCA’s organizational policy, strategy, guidelines, and resources to promote gender equality and inclusion of marginalized groups who may be at risk due to social factors, such as their age, ability, sexual identity, religion, ethnic, or racial identity. Jenn also serves as the gender and agriculture systems advisor (at the deputy chief of party level) for our Advancing Women’s Empowerment program, funded by the USAID Bureau for Food Security. She previously led the women’s economic empowerment learning track under our USAID-funded Leveraging Economic Opportunities project. Prior to joining ACDI/VOCA in 2015, Jenn was a global technical advisor at Counterpart International. She holds a BA in English and studies in women and gender from the University of Virginia, an MFA in creative writing from the University of Maryland, College Park, and an MA and PhD in English with a research concentration in gender, race, class, and intersectionality from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. She has a working knowledge of French and has earned certifications from UK Aid Direct, InsideNGO, the United States Institute of Peace, InterAction, and others. 

Engineer in agricultural sciences and production with postgraduate studies in human development from the Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences.With experience forming female entrepreneurs in the improvement of their businesses through a gender perspective and leading female empowerment workshops in indigenous communities in the honduran Dry Corridor. I ́ve also worked facilitating virtual courses to business service providers on the promotion of equality and autonomy of honduran women. Currently working as the Gender and Social Inclusion Specialist for the Transforming Market Systems activity.

Business Manager and Accountant with a Master’s in Business Management from the Metropolitan University of Honduras. I have been working for at least 15 years in the promotion and defense of the human rights of LGTBI people. I am a member and founder of the Center for LGBTI Development and Cooperation - SOMOS CDC. I currently manage the Savings and Credit Cooperative for LGBTI Development (COACD Ltda). I have experience in technical, administrative, and commercial strengthening of emerging civil society organizations. With COACD we promote actions aimed at the continuous improvement of LGTBI organizations through empowerment and institutional strengthening.

I am currently an intern in the Management and Social Development faculty of the Metropolitan University of Honduras. I've been working for the defense of Human Rights for LGTBI people for at least 8 years as a volunteer and through my work as part of the technical team of the Center for LGBTI Development and Cooperation- SOMOSCDC.