Rachel Weston Eschenbacher ’03

Rachel Weston Eschenbacher is an international civil servant, former politician, and senior leader focused on human rights, democracy, gender equality, the rule of law, and development. Currently serving as the Regional Policy Specialist on Political Participation and Governance for the UN Women Europe and Central Asia Regional Office, she works to advance opportunities for women to lead within democratic institutions and to strengthen responses to trends of de-democratization and the articulated opposition to well-established norms and standards on gender equality.

Rachel is experienced in multilateral initiatives that promote inclusive political processes, particularly in post-conflict and transitioning countries, throughout Eastern Europe, the Balkans, and Central Asia. In over 20 countries, she has focused on advancing governance reforms, democratic resilience, and inclusive political participation.

A former elected member of the Vermont House of Representatives, she played a key role in the passage of landmark legislation, including legalizing same-sex marriage, protected class status for gender identity, criminalizing human trafficking, and pioneering national popular vote efforts. She served on the Ways and Means and Environment and Energy Committees where she championed the expansion of green energy infrastructure, the elimination of reproductive toxins from consumer goods, paid family leave, and progressive tax reform.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Vermont, and a Master of Laws in International and Constitutional Law from the London School of Economics and Political Science.