Board Member: Judy’s League
Arlington, Virginia
Summary
Katherine Guernsey is a Board Member and chair of the Advisory Committee of Judy’s League. She works with Advisory Committee members to offer advice and counsel to the Board of Directors on a range of issues relevant to the successful operation and strategic direction of Judy’s League. Advisory Committee members are individuals with an array of professional backgrounds, who share a commitment to protecting and upholding the rights of persons with disabilities in the United States and beyond.
Katherine is a public international lawyer and international development professional with over twenty years of experience in supporting the human rights and societal inclusion of persons with disabilities through promotion of effective laws, public policy, and strategic and impactful international development programming. She was extensively involved in the negotiations of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). She has spent much of her career dedicated to the effective implementation of the CRPD in support of the full enjoyment of human rights by persons with disabilities. She was honoured to know and work closely with Judy Heumann, including during Judy’s tenure at the World Bank and U.S. Department of State. Katherine joined Judy’s League to support the protection and expansion of the rights to which Judy dedicated her life.
Disability Rights Experience
- Consultant and Legal Counsel providing international law, human rights, disability, and international development expertise to a variety of governmental, non-governmental, and inter-governmental actors
- Former Agency Disability Rights Coordinator, U.S. Agency for International Development
- Former Senior Policy Advisor to the Special Advisor for International Disability Rights, U.S. Department of State
- Former Education & Outreach Director, U.S. International Council on Disabilities
- Former Adjunct Professor, American University School of International Service
- Participant in the negotiations of the CRPD
Education
- LL.M International & Comparative Law: George Washington University
- Juris Doctorate: Ohio Northern University (with distinction)
- B.S. Business Administration: Ohio Northern University (with high distinction)