Amb. Jo Ellen Powell - Executive Director

Ambassador Jo Ellen Powell served as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Human Resources (2016-2017), U.S. Ambassador to Mauritania (2010-2013), and Consul General in Frankfurt, Germany (2006-2009).  She grew up in a Foreign Service family, living in Panama, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Sri Lanka, India, Iran, and Laos.

Ms. Powell joined the Foreign Service in January 1980 and has served in Jordan, Lebanon, Italy, France, Australia, Germany, and Mauritania, in addition to domestic assignments including the Operations Center, the Bureaus of European Affairs and Western Hemisphere Affairs, the Bureau of Human Resources, and the Office of the Secretary, Executive Secretariat.  Ms. Powell is a graduate of Centre College of Kentucky.

Alexis Alexander-Jackson - Program Manager

Alexis Alexander-Jackson started at the Cox Foundation in April of 2022. Prior to joining the Una Chapman Cox Foundation, Alexis worked as an administrative intern at the World Affairs Council – Houston, researching potential sponsors for fundraising events that promoted international cultural education.

She also worked as an assistant for the Counseling and Disabilities Services at the University of St. Thomas – Houston, marketing and organizing outreach events catered towards student wellness. Furthermore, she also had student experience working as an Assistant Vice President for an Executive Student Organization, planning and implementing different programs catered towards numerous student community groups on campus.

Alexis holds a masters degree in Public Policy from American University and a BA in International Studies from the University of St. Thomas – Houston.

Jeannette Windon - Senior Advisor for Congressional Affairs

Jeannette Windon has over two decades of foreign policy experience working in Congress, the State Department and the Peace Corps. During her sixteen years on Capitol Hill, Jeannette served as a legislative director in both the House and the Senate for members of the Appropriations Committee and the State Department, Foreign Operations Subcommittee. She also served as Director of Oversight and Investigations for the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Jeannette holds a MBA in international business from Johns Hopkins University and a BA in sociology and international relations from Northwestern University.