Frieda Arenos works at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) as a congressional affairs specialist supporting the Agency in its engagement with Congress on appropriations and democracy issues. Before joining USAID, Frieda was a Senior Program Director at the National Democratic Institute (NDI), where she led the Institute’s global programs on legislative strengthening and democratic transitions. Prior to joining NDI in 2017, Frieda worked for eight years under U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy, including as a constituent services advisor and legislative assistant. Frieda received her Master’s degree in Intercultural and International Communications from American University’s School of International Service, and her Bachelor’s degree in English and Political Science from the University of Vermont. Over the course of her career, Frieda has worked and traveled extensively overseas, and supported democracy and governance good practices in countries such as Armenia, Cameroon, Georgia, Kenya, Liberia, The Gambia, Senegal, and the Western Balkans. She is passionate about intercultural bridge-building and strengthening U.S. bipartisan relations and policy solutions. She is also a certified mediator. Originally from upstate New York, Frieda also lived and worked in Vermont, and currently resides near Washington, D.C.