About the IAPP

Michelle Sylvester-Jose is a Policy Advisor with the Global Data Privacy Team at the U.S. International Trade Administration. In this position, she works to promote policy frameworks to facilitate cross-border data flows to support trade. Since joining ITA in 2014, she has focused on working with small-and-medium sized enterprises to export overseas. She serves as part of the Department of Commerce’s Privacy Shield Team, and works on the APEC Cross Border Privacy Rules (CBPR) System.

Michelle joined the U.S. Department of Commerce as a Presidential Management Fellow. During her 2-year fellowship she worked with the Office of U.S. Operations at the U.S. Department of Commerce where she collaborated on aspects of the Department’s trade promotion and export assistance services. She also worked in the Economic Policy office of the East Asian and Pacific Bureau (EAP) at the U.S. Department of State where she managed the environment and health portfolio for the EAP region. 

Prior to joining the Department of Commerce, Michelle has several years of experience working with non-profit organizations on program management and development. Michelle has a master’s degree in International Relations with a focus on Conflict Resolution and Negotiations from New York University, she also received her bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the University of California Davis.