Jesse Bernstein is a dedicated human rights advocate who brings together diverse stakeholders in support of concrete solutions. He is a skilled leader who designs global initiatives that demonstrably improve the lives of the most vulnerable, including LGBT persons, refugees, displaced persons and others. He currently works at the Department of State as a Senior Advisor in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor at the Department of State. He joined the Department in 2011 and led the development and launch of the Global Equality Fund, a public-private partnership initiative that supports programs to advance the human rights of LGBTI persons globally. In his current role as Senior Advisor, he leads policy and diplomatic initiatives in support of human rights, with a focus on vulnerable groups including LGBTI persons. Prior to joining the Department, he worked for Human Rights First, the United Nations Refugee Agency in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre in Geneva, Switzerland, and the Refugee Law Project in Uganda in support of refugees and human rights. He has published articles on refugee and LGBTI rights. Jesse is a 2018 Truman National Security Fellow. He focuses on impact and deploys creativity, tact and persistence to realize real changes in policy and practice. In addition to the above, Jesse enjoys travel and cooking and new adventures. He lives with his partner Dylan in Washington, D.C.