Past President, UCI Alumni Association
CEO, Project Hope Alliance (PHA)
UC Irvine – 1995, B.A., social ecology
Whittier Law School – 1998, J.D.
Prior to becoming CEO, Jennifer Friend enjoyed a successful career as a partner at a large law firm managing a litigation team and a substantial personal book of business, representing national and international clients throughout the civil courts of California. While practicing law, she served as President and Secretary of Project Hope Alliance’s Board of Directors and was actively engaged in the organization’s expansion and strategic growth. Since 2013, more than 1,000 children and their families have been moved out of homelessness under her leadership as CEO. Project Hope Alliance has experienced a growth of 400% in the past four years, evolving from a team of three full-time employees to a current team of 23. Jennifer has been successful in identifying, leveraging, and acting upon opportunities and partnerships both within the for-profit and nonprofit sectors. Her personal experience as a homeless child fuels her deep-rooted passion and commitment to homeless children and youth, while her ability to cast vision, think strategically, and lead and direct broader systems change uniquely qualify her to serve as Project Hope Alliance’s CEO. She holds a JD from Whittier Law School and a BA in Criminology, Law, and Society from University of California, Irvine. She serves as a UCI Trustee and chair of the UCI Alumni Association.