The Alliance for American Leadership (A4AL) is made up of both national experts in policy, global health, and diplomacy, as well as more than 1200 student organizers spread across 100 college campuses. Vernessa Beharry, A4AL’s Managing Director, serves as both a guide and an anchor for A4AL, keeping these disparate groups organized and working toward a common goal.

For our first “A4AL Spotlight” interview, Beharry talks to us about how she manages this work, and how her work at A4AL aligns with her graduate studies in public decision-making and justice reform. She also talks about the shared sense of community that keeps A4AL going, the nonpartisan aspect of our mission, and her loves of Starbucks, cooking, and the beach when she’s not at work.

What are your current responsibilities at A4AL?
As Managing Director, I serve as a steady organizational anchor at the Alliance, guiding communication, operations, and political strategy with clarity and care. I oversee intern responsiveness, update documentation, refine internal messaging, and ensure our communication norms remain consistent across the organization. I set agendas for leadership and staff meetings and lead them to ensure priorities are clearly laid out, and everyone knows what they’re walking into. I meet with campaigns to discuss endorsement considerations, gather information, and maintain smooth relationships with candidates seeking our support. My work blends coordination, leadership, and gentle quality control, keeping the organization running in a structured, supportive way.

What does a typical day look like for you?
I usually start my day around 9am, easing in by checking Slack, reviewing messages, and smoothing anything that needs immediate attention. Throughout the morning, I update agendas, refine documents, prepare onboarding materials, and draft internal communications that keep the team aligned and supported. As the day progresses, I coordinate with other team leads on various projects, confirm schedules, and ensure staff have what they need to move through their tasks without friction. I meet with campaigns to discuss endorsements, review candidate materials, and keep our outreach workflows tidy and active. In the afternoon, I handle operational tasks like interview scheduling, page updates, placement confirmations, and intern workflow management. I usually wrap up around 6 pm, closing out loose ends and setting the next day up for a clean, supported start.

How and when did you come to join A4AL? What were you doing before you came here?
I first learned about the Alliance through LinkedIn. I had just graduated with my bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and was new to my master’s program, looking for a place where I could grow and gain real-world experience.

When I came across the Alliance, it immediately stood out for its work, mission, and energy, so I decided to apply and see where it could take me. That decision ended up shaping the entire direction of my professional life. I came to A4AL during a moment when the broader foreign aid and policy infrastructure in the United States was being weakened, especially with the gutting of USAID. The work felt necessary, principled, and deeply aligned with the kind of leadership I wanted to be part of. I joined because I believed in strengthening civic engagement and building a healthier policy ecosystem, and A4AL offered a space where that mission was not just talked about but actively lived out every day. 

You’re working on  a master’s of public administration where you’re studying public decision-making and equitable justice reform. What drove you to that work? How do your studies and A4AL’s work complement each other?
What drove me to this work is the simple belief I’ve always held: everyone deserves to be treated fairly, no matter their socioeconomic status. I’ve always been drawn to questions about how institutions make choices, policy shapes people’s lives, and justice systems can be rebuilt to be more accessible and humane. Ethical governance and accountability matter deeply to me, so pursuing an MPA felt like the right path to strengthen the kind of leadership I want to bring into public service.

My studies complement my work at A4AL in a very real way. In class, I learn about administrative decision-making, policy design, and the mechanics of public leadership, and then I get to apply those concepts directly in my day‑to‑day responsibilities. The Alliance gives me a space where I can practice equitable leadership, strengthen civic engagement, and contribute to a healthier policy ecosystem. The work we do aligns closely with what I study, especially around justice reform, ethical governance, and building institutions that respond to people’s needs. It feels like both sides of my life reinforce each other: my academic work sharpens my leadership at A4AL, and my role at the Alliance gives me real‑world context that makes my studies more meaningful.

What are you hoping to do after finishing your master’s degree? If you could have any job in the world, what would it be?

I plan to pursue my PhD to deepen my expertise in public decision-making, justice reform, and the systems that shape people’s lives. Long term, I hope to work for the federal government as a policy analyst, especially in the criminal justice space. I also hope to become a professor one day. 

Teaching at a university has always felt meaningful to me, and I want to help students understand how public institutions work, how policy is shaped, and how justice systems can be improved. Being able to teach while continuing my own policy work would let me support the next generation of leaders while staying grounded in real-world impact. Through all of that, I hope to continue being part of the Alliance. It has become a place where my values, my leadership, and my purpose all feel aligned, and I want it to remain a core part of my professional journey. 

If I could have any job in the world, I would be an ambassador. 

What’s one thing you wished more people knew about A4AL or our mission?

We are nonpartisan and mission-driven, and I wish more people understood how intentional that is. Our work is focused on strengthening democracy by bringing people together around shared values rather than political agendas. A key part of that includes our commitment to foreign assistance and the belief that global stability directly supports a healthier civic ecosystem at home. When foreign aid structures weaken, it affects how communities engage, how policy is shaped, and how institutions respond to people’s needs. Everything we do is rooted in fairness, accessibility, and service, and these principles guide every part of our mission. 

What do you enjoy most about working at A4AL?

The community we have built is truly one of my favorite parts of working at the Alliance. I love being surrounded by people who care deeply about service, ethics, and impact, and who show up every day with so much heart. I have met some of the best people at the Alliance—people who are so amazing, supportive, and genuinely committed to making a difference. Being in a space where everyone believes in the mission and uplifts one another makes the work feel meaningful in a way that is hard to describe. It is a community that inspires me, challenges me, and reminds me why this work matters. 

What’s the hardest part of your job?

The hardest part of my job is managing the level of responsibility that comes with keeping everything running smoothly. I care so much about the people here and about the mission, so I always want to make sure every detail is handled well, and everyone feels supported. Balancing fast‑moving tasks, different communication styles, and the constant need to stay organized can be challenging, especially when multiple things happen at once. I also hold myself to a very high standard, which means I feel it deeply when something slips through or doesn’t go the way I hoped. Even with all of that, the work is meaningful, and the challenges push me to grow in ways I’m grateful for. 

What passions or hobbies do you have outside of work and your studies?

I have a few passions outside of work and school that really bring me joy. Grabbing a Starbucks is honestly my happiness in a cup and truly the way to my heart. It is one of those little rituals that make my day feel brighter. I love traveling, especially visiting New York City, because it is my favorite place to explore, and it always feels energizing. I also enjoy shopping and finding cute things that make me smile. I love cooking because it feels creative and comforting. And whenever I can, I love visiting the beach because it is peaceful, grounding, and one of my favorite ways to unwind. 

Beharry shared this photo of herself during a recent trip to Walt Disney World.

When she’s not studying policy around decision-making equitable justice reform, Beharry enjoys time at the beach and New York City.