Jean K. Ries is a civil society and leadership program officer at The David and Lucile Packard Foundation, where she leads work to strengthen leaders, organizations, and movements, and to foster a vibrant, inclusive, and safe civil society. Her portfolio supports efforts that build nonprofit resilience, promote leadership sustainability, and advance safety, security, and well-being with a focus on U.S. civil society.
Jean brings more than two decades of experience in the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors, including roles as a strategy and leadership consultant. Her work has focused on capacity building, team culture, and operational infrastructure to support longterm impact and social change.
Driven by a deep belief in the power of people and the systems that support them, Jean is passionate about advancing practices and partnerships that center care, clarity, and collaboration.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Vassar College, where she majored in Women’s Studies and Philosophy, and a Master of Public Administration with a focus on nonprofit management from New York University’s Wagner Graduate School of Public Service.
Outside of work, Jean enjoys time in nature, meditation, and her hobby job teaching fitness.