Jennifer Zachary

Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Jennifer Zachary grew up amongst the lush forests of the Cascade Range and the gently rolling hills of the Columbia River Gorge. The daughter of a tugboat captain father and an elementary school teacher mother, affordability and access were always top of mind for family vacations, and our nation’s public lands answered the call admirably. Jennifer was thus fortunate to experience firsthand the transformative power of nature to sustain and inspire children and their families.

A biogeochemist by training, she wrote her college thesis at Arizona State University on how the urbanization of previously undeveloped land contributes to increased rates of carbon dioxide production. Jennifer went on to law school at Harvard and a career promoting and defending the public health through positions at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Department of Justice, the international law firm of Covington & Burling LLP, and now serves as the General Counsel of the global vaccines and pharmaceutical company Merck.

Throughout her life, Jennifer has remained a steadfast outdoors enthusiast, passionate about hiking, kayaking, rock climbing, cross-country and downhill skiing, camping, and otherwise taking in the majestic beauty and quiet serenity of open spaces. She desires to share with others this same opportunity, and she knows her mother, who taught in a Title I school, would be proud of the work she does with her colleagues and supporters at the National Park Trust to endeavor to provide every child and family with access and opportunity to connect with nature.