Rebekah Gordon

As a first-generation college student from Brooklyn, Rebekah Gordon had no blueprint for how to turn her passion for political science and government into a career. She knew she had a passion for serving others and solving problems but was unsure of the paths available to pursue that calling. However, a recommendation from her department chair at Long Island University in 2009 changed everything. She became a Presidential Fellow—and the experience, she says, was life-changing. “When you’re in school, it’s one thing to learn it but it’s another thing to be immersed,” she shares.

As part of the program, Rebekah traveled to D.C. for the leadership conference. “Getting the opportunity to be in D.C. to talk to my representatives, talk to lawmakers, to hear what goes on and the conversations that happen was eye-opening to me as a college student.” Besides the statesmen and other officials that she met with during the convening, another highlight for Rebekah was the opportunity to meet other students from different backgrounds. “When you’re exposed to people who are in colleges around the country, you get to hear a lot of different perspectives that you probably never would have considered before,” she reflects.

After the Fellowship, Rebekah began her career in the nonprofit sector and later joined the Delegation of the Maldives at the United Nations. She credits the soft skills developed through the Fellowship—listening to differing viewpoints, not getting offended by other opinions, and navigating complexity—in shaping her journey and career.  

Rebekah went on to earn a law degree from Northwestern and practiced at a law firm before transitioning to her current role at JPMorgan Private Bank. Regardless of her position, her theme has stayed the same: “How do I read between the lines and actually get to the core of what that person is looking to accomplish? And then we work together to get that solution.”

Now working at the intersection of finance, regulation, and technology, she continues to draw on the analytical and interpersonal skills she began developing as a Fellow. “I always point to that experience, when I was in college with the Center, and although it was focused on the U.S., it gave me the beginnings of a skill set that I apply today,” she says.

Rebekah recently joined us at the Alumni & Friends Reception during the 2025 Fellowship Conference. While there, she had the opportunity to speak with Secretary Doug Burgum and reflected on the insights he shared. In particular, she emphasized his message on the importance of leaders in the private sector who embrace change and remain focused on finding innovative solutions.

Rebekah’s parting advice to students? “Stay open and don’t feel like you are a failure because you don’t go down the path that everyone is going on.” She continues, “you have to see the value of what you bring to the table and wear that like a badge of honor.”

Rebekah with Secretary Burgum at the 2025 Alumni & Friends Reception in Washington, D.C.