Jennifer Jennings-Shaffer currently serves as the Principal at Odyssey Strategic Consulting. Her consultation practice is grounded in a relationship-based approach based upon trust, mutual respect, and collaboration. The objective of her practice is to advance equitable outcomes for children, families, and communities by supporting the capacity of nonprofits, philanthropy, and government organizations to design, advocate for, and implement effective policies and systems that will result in a more just, equitable society for us all.
Her experience includes national advocacy, state-based advocacy, and state government. She previously served as the Assistant Director of State Advocacy at ZERO TO THREE where she both contributed to the development and implementation of successful advocacy campaigns as well as providing guidance and technical assistance to state partners implementing their own campaigns. Before that she held the position of Early Learning Policy Director at the Children’s Alliance in Washington State where she led a coalition of early childhood advocates to adopt and advocate for an aligned early childhood policy agenda. Prior to that she served as the Head Start State Collaboration Office Administrator at the Washington State Department of Early Learning where she supported implementation of a variety of early childhood systems initiatives. She holds Bachelors and Master of Public Administration degrees from The Evergreen State College.
Jennifer lives in Seattle, Washington with her husband and 7-year-old son. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family hiking, paddling, and generally getting outside.