As the President and Chief Executive Officer of The Africa Society of The National Summit on Africa, Bernadette Paolo possesses decades of experience in foreign affairs and leads a series of educational programs and initiatives to heighten Americans’ consciousness of Africa. Bernadette Paolo was one of the founding members of The Africa Society in 2002, when it was created as an expansion of The National Summit on Africa. Before becoming the President and CEO of The Africa Society in 2006, Bernadette Paolo served as the organization’s Vice President. Since ascending to the presidency, Bernadette Paolo has developed educational programs and coordinated the creation of documentary films featuring African heads of state. In addition, she was the Director of Field Operations for The National Summit on Africa, for which she organized six separate regional summits throughout the country and served as the in-house legal counsel for the organization.

Bernadette Paolo’s experience in international affairs centers on her career as an attorney. For 12 years, Bernadette Paolo held a number of positions as a professional staff member of the U.S. Congress. The majority of Bernadette Paolo’s service was for the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, where she helped formulate strategies and advised members of Congress on policy decisions. In addition, she managed several House subcommittee staffs and drafted numerous speeches, articles, and pieces of legislation.

Prior to serving Congress, Bernadette Paolo advised a range of clients on economic, policy, and other issues as an International Consultant with a private law practice in Washington, D.C. Bernadette Paolo also has experience teaching English at the secondary and university levels. After earning her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in her home state of West Virginia, Bernadette Paolo graduated from Washington, D.C.’s Antioch School of Law with her Juris Doctor. Currently, Bernadette Paolo is a member of the District of Columbia Bar and the West Virginia State Bar.