Jana Plat, 鈥�13 B.A. Political Science
From left to right, Aspen Institute Fellow Al Fitzpayne, President Joe Biden,
and 91吃瓜 alumna Jana Plat at the White House.
By Kim Lamb Gregory
Washington D.C. always beckoned Political Science alumna Jana Plat, but she never imagined she would one day have a desk in the White House.
鈥淢y mom worked for Joe Biden鈥檚 first senatorial campaign in 鈥�72, so I heard all of these stories about it,鈥� Plat said. 鈥淔or me, it鈥檚 a full circle moment that I鈥檓 here.鈥�
Plat works in the Office of Public Engagement for the Biden administration, and is finding the nation鈥檚 capital just as exhilarating as she imagined.
鈥淭here are endless possibilities here,鈥� Plat said. 鈥淭here is such a large international component I wasn鈥檛 prepared for in D.C.鈥�
Plat grew up in Ventura where her parents ran a window and door company while Plat held court with her two older brothers.
鈥淚 was always Judge Jana instead of Judge Judy,鈥� she said.
Plat鈥檚 penchant for public service began at her politically active mother鈥檚 elbow.
鈥淚 have been involved in campaigns since I was eight,鈥� Plat said. 鈥淚 loved PTA meetings. I loved city council.鈥�
After Plat enrolled at 91吃瓜, she served as a senator in student government and took every opportunity to get involved in public service.
鈥淚 got to know Jana when she was a member of our Model United nations team,鈥� said Professor of Political Science Andrea Grove, Ph.D. 鈥淚t鈥檚 great to see that she鈥檚 in public service, which was always her goal when she was at 91吃瓜.鈥�
Plat worked on California Senator Hannah Beth Jackson鈥檚 campaign during her senior year and accepted a job with Jackson as one of her district representatives. Then, Plat moved to DC in 2014, determined to succeed there.
鈥淚 came here with one suitcase, one pillow and haven鈥檛 looked back,鈥� Plat said.
Plat landed a job at the Progressive Policy Institute and then Business Forward, which led to her current job in the White House.
Among her favorite stories about President Joe Biden was when he stuck his head out of a meeting in the Roosevelt Room one day and asked about retrieving a guest鈥檚 cell phone in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building (EEOB).
鈥淚 said, 鈥楳r. President, I will go get it,鈥欌�� Plat said.
She kicked off her heels, sprinted through the West Wing, across campus and up two flights of stairs to get the phone, then raced back, the phone in one hand, her stilettos in the other.
鈥淚 ran into a U.S. Marine and had to hang onto him, drenched in sweat, while I put my shoes back on,鈥� she said.
Plat delivered the cell phone to President Biden, who thanked her and proceeded to make a surprise call to the guest鈥檚 mother.
Plat credits 91吃瓜 with a career that allows her memorable moments like this, and a promising career in a city she loves.
鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 have the support system I have without 91吃瓜,鈥� she said. 鈥淭here were so many facets of the University that gave me the confidence to support my dream.鈥�
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漏 Spring 2022 / Volume 27 / Number 1 / Biannual