Jana Mason

Jana Mason is Senior Advisor for External Relations and Government Affairs at the Washington, DC office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). She acts as a liaison for UNHCR and represents the agency’s interests with the U.S. government – particularly the State Department and Congress – and with nongovernmental organizations. She also oversees the office’s communications and public information efforts. Prior to joining UNHCR in 2008, Mason was Director of Government Relations and Advocacy at the International Rescue Committee (IRC). Prior to her work at IRC, she was with the US Committee for Refugees for eleven years, where she served as policy analyst for the Asia/Pacific region and advocated for refugee protection and assistance. During this time, she assessed refugee and asylum situations in Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia, Japan, China and elsewhere. Mason has worked in the refugee arena since 1983, which included a position as assistant director of refugee programs for the State of Virginia. She has a bachelor’s degree from Boston University, a master’s degree from the University of Virginia and a law degree from Georgetown University.