Megan Soetaert is a coordinator at Jobs for the Future. In this role, she focuses on supporting the Financing the Future (FTF) team in reimagining how we pay for postsecondary education and skills development.
Her skills and areas of expertise include:
- International and domestic development for non-governmental organizations (NGO)
- Program management and evaluation
- International development and equity
- Community and economic development
- Organizational communication
- French
Before joining JFF, Megan served as an NGO development intern with the Equal & Opposite Foundation, where she was partnered with Development Support Initiative (DSI), which focused on equitable rural development. In this role, Megan supported the DSI in areas such as grant writing, donor management, project monitoring and evaluation, and social media communications.
Earlier in her career, Megan worked with Girls Empowerment Network in a variety of volunteer roles while she was a student at the University of Texas at Austin.
Reflecting on her decision to join JFF Megan says, “I am an outspoken supporter of the belief that all Americans, regardless of race, immigration status, gender, ability, or economic background should have an equitable chance of getting an education and achieving economic advancement. Beyond my belief in the mission of JFF and the Financing the Future initiative, the FTF coordinator role speaks to me because it will allow me to use my project management skills while making a tangible impact in the realm of education.”
She has a master’s degree in international affairs from Pennsylvania State University, where she specialized in human security. She also has a bachelor’s degree in international relations and French from the University of Texas at Austin.
Megan lives in Austin, Texas, with her wonderful partner, Raeann, and their 15-year-old deaf cat, Chulo. Her favorite hobbies include reading, traveling, and watching YouTube mini-documentaries on international affairs.