Born and raised in Charlottesville, VA, Jannie was never too far from the Hill. In fact, she often visited D.C. while growing up, which made her transition to living and working here seamless and meaningful.

“At fourteen, standing atop the Washington Monument, I fell in love with the way D.C. holds history in its bones while still breathing possibility. As a daughter of Sierra Leonean immigrants, that moment sparked a quiet promise to myself that I’d return to the area. Years later, as the first Black woman Student Body President at Miami University, my passion for service deepened,” says Jannie.

Through the support of a mentor, Jannie started on the Hill in Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester’s office. Now, Jannie serves her home state of Virginia as Legislative Aide for Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan. In addition, Jannie serves as President of the LGBT Congressional Staff Association.

"It is an honor to work for Congresswoman McClellan who is the first Black woman to serve as a Member of Congress from Virginia. What I deeply appreciate about the Congresswoman is her vast knowledge of history and her unique ability to connect the past to the present, bringing a thoughtful, grounded perspective to policymaking that honors legacy while driving meaningful progress. It’s inspiring to work for someone who leads with both principle and deep knowledge of the communities she represents,” says Jannie.

Continue reading to hear about Jannie’s favorite Hill memory, the importance of following up, her background-driven approach to making connections, and her strategy on bipartisanship.