International Trade Administration,
U.S. Department of Commerce

Rodney P. Emery

Director of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs

On June 29, 2009, Rodney P. Emery assumed his duties as Director of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs for the International Trade Administration.  Before accepting his political appointment, Mr. Emery served as Vice President of Public Policy and Research for the Council on Foundations.   As the Vice President of Public Policy and Research, Mr. Emery served as the senior liaison between the Council and Members of Congress. Within this role, Mr. Emery provided both vision and oversight for the Council’s outreach efforts to Capitol Hill, nonprofit organizations and the general public.  Mr. Emery also supervised the production of research in support of the Council’s legislative agenda as well as the delivery of statistical research that highlighted the current operational and charitable trends of the philanthropic sector.

Before joining the Council on Foundations, Mr. Emery served as a consultant for the Capitol Hill Consultant Group based in Washington DC.  Prior to that position, Mr. Emery served on Capitol Hill as the Chief of Staff for United States Representative Diane E. Watson (D-CA).  Mr. Emery’s previous experience in the United States Congress included positions with Representatives Juanita Millender-McDonald (D-CA) and Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-IL) where Mr. Emery served as a small business committee advisor.  Mr. Emery earned a Bachelors Degree from Howard University and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Illinois College of Law.