Krish O’Mara Vignarajah

Krish was 9-months old when she and her family escaped a country on the brink of civil war and built a life in Maryland – her parents came to this country with no jobs and just $200 in their pockets. Her interest in public service and grassroots politics began at an early age. In elementary school, Krish went knocking door to door with her mother in support of Senator Barbara Mikulski when she won her historic first race for the Senate.

During her time at the White House, Krish led State First Lady Michelle Obama’s signature Let Girls Learn initiative. At the State Department, she coordinated development and implementation of multiple programs including those concerning global women’s issues, climate and migration, engagement with religious communities, the legal dimensions of U.S. foreign policy, and regional issues related to Africa and the Middle East.

Krish has been recognized as one of The Daily Record’s “Most Admired CEOs,” “Top 100 Women,” and the Baltimore Sun’s Women to Watch. She serves on boards and committees for the National Women’s Hall of Fame, the World Trade Center Institute, and the American Bar Association’s Commission on Immigration. She and her husband, Collin O’Mara, are the parents of a young daughter, Alana.