Jennifer Harris

Jennifer Harris serves as Executive Director for Texas and the South. Based in Texas, Harris leads TechNet’s state policy engagement across Texas, New Mexico, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Puerto Rico. Harris brings more than two decades of experience in public policy, government affairs, and economic development across Texas, Florida, and Louisiana. Prior to joining TechNet, she served as Federal Program Officer for Texas and Louisiana at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), where she oversaw the implementation of more than $4.6 billion in federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program funding.

Earlier in her career, Harris held multiple roles in the Texas House of Representatives, serving as Chief of Staff, Legislative Director, Communications Director, and District Director. She has also worked as a higher education policy analyst for the Florida Department of Education and as a lobbyist before the Texas Legislature. In addition, she served as State Program Director at Connected Nation Texas, where she led statewide efforts to close the digital divide by expanding broadband access and advancing digital opportunity initiatives.

A native of Denton, Texas, Harris is a fourth-generation graduate of Denton High School and an alumna of The University of Texas at Austin’s McCombs School of Business and Texas A&M University’s Bush School of Government and Public Service.