Kitty Close supports the ICRC’s relationship with the U.S. Congress by advising on engagement with policymakers and their staff, monitoring and reporting on Congressional actions of relevance to the ICRC, and building and maintaining a network of bipartisan contacts in Congress. Prior to joining the ICRC, she served as the Director of Government Relations for the Basic Education Coalition, a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing basic education for children and youth around the world. She also previously worked on Capitol Hill, serving in the Senate for a senior member on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and in the House of Representatives for a senior member on the House Appropriations Committee. Ms. Close has a BA in Political Science and Peace, War, and Defense (PWAD) from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an MA in U.S. Foreign Policy and National Security from American University.