Jeff Wheeler
About Jeff Wheeler
Jeff Wheeler serves as a Program Officer for Europe and Central Asia at the Solidarity Center, focusing on labor, human rights, and democracy. He has extensive experience in the region and holds a Bachelor's Degree in International Affairs and Psychology from Lafayette College.
Work at Solidarity Center
Jeff Wheeler has been serving as a Program Officer for Europe and Central Asia at Solidarity Center since 2019. In this role, he focuses on supporting worker rights programming across Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia. His responsibilities include proposal development, budgeting, grant reporting, and web writing. Wheeler's work is centered on labor, human rights, and democracy, leveraging his on-the-ground experience in the region.
Previous Experience at National Democratic Institute
Before joining Solidarity Center, Jeff Wheeler worked at the National Democratic Institute (NDI) in various capacities. He served as a Program Assistant for Central & Eastern Europe from 2018 to 2019 and as a Project Assistant in 2017. His roles involved supporting democratic initiatives and programs in the region, contributing to his expertise in international affairs and human rights.
Education and Expertise
Jeff Wheeler holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Affairs and Psychology from Lafayette College, where he studied from 2012 to 2016. He is currently pursuing Peace and Conflict Studies in the Balkans at the School for International Training, a program he has been engaged with since 2015. His educational background supports his work in labor rights and democracy in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
Background and Early Career
Wheeler's early career includes various roles that contributed to his professional development. He worked as an Intern in Communications at Solidarity Center from 2016 to 2017 and at Magnum Foundation in 2016. Additionally, he served as a Resident Advisor and Hall Director at Lafayette College's Office of Residence Life from 2013 to 2016. These experiences provided him with foundational skills in communication and organizational management.
Union Membership and Advocacy
Jeff Wheeler is a member of the Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 2. His union membership aligns with his commitment to worker rights and advocacy, further enhancing his role in supporting labor rights programming in his current position at Solidarity Center.