Josie McSpadden

A longtime mentor at SXSW EDU, Josie McSpadden leads media affairs for the United States Program at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, managing national media relations and advancing the foundation's education initiatives. Previously, she taught 8th-grade writing in San Antonio with Teach For America, served as global spokesperson for the Peace Corps, staffed Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and helped direct Presidential Press Advance under President George W. Bush. She holds master’s degrees in both journalism and national security, and is a proud mom of four young children.