Jena O'Brien

Jena O’Brien is a member of the Kroc Institute's communications team. In her role, Jena oversees the Institute's digital presence on social media and is responsible for its graphic design, photography, videography, and The Kroc Cast podcast. She is also the communication lead for the Peace Accords Matrix program and its real-time monitoring of peace agreements around the world. 

Jena has over five years of experience working in higher education communications and marketing. Before joining the University of Notre Dame in 2021, she was the marketing manager at Goshen College.

Jena earned her M.S. in Strategic Communications from Arkansas State University, and her B.A. from Bluffton (Ohio) University, majoring in public relations. Her previous research focuses on crisis communications within the realm of higher education, brand strategy and management, and rhetoric and public discourse.