Sophia Lalani serves as a Senior National Security Advisor in the office of the USAID Administrator.  Most recently, Sophia was the defense and foreign policy advisor to Senator Cory Booker. Sophia previously worked for Senator Chris Coons, focusing on U.S. policy in the Middle East and Sub Saharan Africa. Prior to her time in the Senate, Sophia worked with the International Organization for Migration in Nairobi, Kenya, and the Aga Khan Development Network in Karachi, Pakistan. She is a proud former Teach for America corps member having taught 6-8th grade in the South Bronx in New York.  Sophia attended Vanderbilt University and received Master’s Degrees from Columbia and Harvard University.