Jennifer Siebel Newsom

Jennifer Siebel Newsom was born June 19, 1974, in San Francisco, California, and grew up in Ross, California. She graduated with honors from Stanford University, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Latin American studies in 1996 and a Master of Business Administration in 2001. During her time at Stanford, she was also a member of the women’s soccer team and later studied at the American Conservatory Theater. After completing her education, Siebel Newsom worked with Conservation International on assignments across Africa, Latin America, and Europe before moving to Hollywood in 2002 to pursue an acting career. She appeared in various films and television shows, including “Something’s Gotta Give” (2003), “Rent” (2005), “In the Valley of Elah” (2007), “Life” (2007-2008), and “Mad Men” (2008).

Transitioning from acting, Siebel Newsom became a documentary filmmaker, focusing on gender representation and societal norms. She wrote, directed, and produced “Miss Representation” (2011), an award-winning documentary that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and later aired on OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network. The film explored the underrepresentation of women in media and positions of power. Following its success, she founded The Representation Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to using film and media to challenge limiting gender stereotypes. Her subsequent films include “The Mask You Live In” (2015), which premiered at Sundance and examined masculinity, and “The Great American Lie” (2020), which explored inequality in America. She also executive produced Emmy Award-winning documentaries “The Invisible War” (2012) and “The Hunting Ground” (2015). In her public role, she has served as a global advisory board member for the Dove Self Esteem Project and a co-chair of We Day California.

Since 2019, Jennifer Siebel Newsom has served as the First Partner of California, a title she adopted for gender-inclusiveness as the wife of Governor Gavin Newsom. In this role, she actively advocates for gender equality, working mothers, and families across the state. She co-founded the California Partners Project, a nonprofit focused on championing gender equity and promoting mental, behavioral, and physical health for children and families. Her work continues to center on using storytelling and advocacy to drive cultural and societal change, addressing issues from media representation to the root causes of inequality and gender stereotypes. She lives in Sacramento, California, with her husband and their four children.