Kim Olson Email & Phone Number

Washington Dc-Baltimore Area

As Senior Officer on the Retirement Savings Project, I provide expertise and technical assistance to state governments studying, legislating, or implementing state-facilitated automated savings programs. These programs fill a benefits gap in the private sector workforce, requiring employers to provide employees the ability to save through payroll deduction. Since arriving at Pew, I have worked with states on program implementation in Colorado, Virginia, Delaware, Maine and Hawaii. I also worked directly with legislators on draft legislation and served as an expert resource on bills in Minnesota, Nevada, Vermont, Washington (each of which passed in 2023/2024) and a half dozen other states. I serve as a spokesperson for the project, leading advocacy efforts in states nationwide, in interviews with the media, and as a featured speaker on industry panels.For more information on this work, visit our website at http://pewtrusts.org/statesavings

Washington, District Of Columbia, United States

As a Senior Advisor for the U.S. State and Federal Government portfolio, I led social impact projectswith state and local governments to improve operations, policies, and programs using behavioral science. Partnering with government officials, I supervised teams to conduct low-cost evaluations, focused on feasibility, practicality, and effectiveness. These projects provided state and city officials with evidence on which to base policy changes. Project topics included: increasing diversity/gender equity in hiring; reducing assaults on busoperators; workers’ compensation; health and wellness; and energy justice.

Berlin Area, Germany

Selected as one of 15 highly accomplished American professionals to participate in a year-long fellowship aimed at familiarizing fellows with the political, economic and cultural environment of Germany and European Union.10/2019 - 1/2020: Associate Fellow at the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS)2/2020 - 5/2020: Fellow at the Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)

Salem, Oregon

Identified issues and performed research to design strategic initiatives for Oregon State Treasurer Tobias Read. In addition to serving as an advisor to the Treasurer on various boards and committees, and during the legislative session, I also served as the primary researcher, author, and coordinator of administrative rulemaking for the nation's first state-based auto-IRA program for private sector workers, OregonSaves.

Salem, Oregon

As the Executive Division policy analyst, I provided consultative advice and strategic vision on administrative, policy, programmatic, and management aspects of Oregon State Treasury (OST) operations. I developed long-range plans, goals, and objectives, and evaluated the effectiveness of OST programs. My research and recommendations served as the basis for new administrative systems, policies, and regulations. I advised OST management during the biennial budget process, monitored draft legislation during legislative session, and provided operational support to Treasury-wide program. • Designed a process for the formulation and revision of OST policies, including procurement of a web-based policy management solution; negotiated contract with vendor and led implementation. • Researched and independently drafted policy memos on over a dozen topics; presented recommendations to executive management regarding policy changes and communication strategies with staff. • Drafted a new classification series - Investment Analyst - for Oregon state government and shepherded the series through the process of approvals and into implementation.

Ankara, Turkey

Political Officer, External Political Unit- Drafted reports on Turkey-Africa, Asia and Middle East relations; report language was used to create talking points for Department of State officials, including the Secretary of State. - Met with Turkish government officials, NGOs, think tanks, and academics to inform reporting.- Served as Embassy control officer for visits of high-level Department of State officials and over a dozen Congressional and other delegations. - Served as site officer for a visit of Secretary of State John Kerry. Led a team of five to manage logistics, draft scenario for the Secretary's advance staff, and control the event.- Coordinated a U.S.-Turkey regional reporting officer's conference. Managed logistics, funding, travel, scheduling and spearheaded the event for 23 officers arriving from 16 posts. - Chosen by the U.S. Government as the first U.S. diplomat to attend a two-month training course through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Berlin, Germany. - Franklin Award recipient.

Foreign Service Institute (Turkish Language Training)

Vice Consul at US Embassy Bern, Switzerland (April 2009 - June 2011)Chief, American Citizens Services (ACS) (August 2010 - June 2011)- Processed passport applications, birth/death reports, and notarial services- Direct supervision of five local staff and shared responsibility for the supervision of eight additional staff.- Managed a 75% reduction of a 2,600 case backlog in the Bern ACS computer system by creating standard operating procedures for the opening/closure of cases.- Revitalized the Embassy warden system Chief, Immigrant Visa Unit/Vice Consul, Non-Immigrant Visa Unit (April 2009 - July 2010) - Interviewed applicants for immigrant and non-immigrant visas; applied relevant regulations from the Foreign Affairs Manual, sound judgment, and customer service in visa decisions; conducted fraud investigations.- Direct supervision of two local staff and shared responsibility for the supervision of eight additional staff. - Led consular outreach programs for the ACS and Visa Units, including arranging two Ambassador-led outreach sessions to American citizens and visa outreach to a Travel USA conference.- Two Meritorious Honor Awards

U.S. Embassy, Beijing, China

- Political officer responsible for Chinese-Japanese relations, counterterrorism, and energy security.

Bureau Of European And Eurasian Affairs, Office Of Press And Public Diplomacy

- Served as the Public Diplomacy desk officer for southeast Europe (Turkey, Greece, Cyprus), the Caucasus (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia) and AGS (Austria, Germany, Switzerland)

- Research Project: United Nations Reform: Security in the 21st Century

M.A., German And European Studies

Activities and Societies: - Humboldt University Transatlantic Symposium, “Unity in Diversity” Berlin, Germany, - Young Atlanticist Summit.

Certificate, German-English Translation

Completed coursework in commercial and legal translation, CAT tools, and project management.

B.A., International Studies, German

Activities and Societies: - Phi Beta Kappa, University of Oregon Chapter- Graduated magna cum laude with departmental Honors.

International Relations