Dr. Cara Jones is a security and conflict expert with more than 15 years of experience in research, monitoring, evaluation, and political economy analysis. She has subject matter expertise in governance, countering violent extremism, and civil wars. She has worked in 43 countries and specializes in sub-Saharan Africa. Her previous work includes consulting across the USG, including USAID, MCC, DOD, and DOS on evaluations, formative assessments, specialty research and performance monitoring.

Cara has an MA in Political Science and African Studies and a PhD in Political Science from the University of Florida.  A native of the Gulf Coast, she speaks French, Swahili, and Kirundi and has yet to turn down a spicy dish.  She is passionate about refugees and asylees and serves as a pro-bono expert witness for cases from Central Africa. In her off-time, you can likely find her in nature with her family.