Jean Ard
Jean Ard is the executive assistant to the director of the Baker Institute, Ambassador David M. Satterfield. In this capacity, she provides a full range of support — overseeing special projects, prioritizing initiatives, and executive communications. Ard serves as primary contact for the Director’s Office to internal and external constituencies and manages the institute's Board of Advisors. Before joining the institute, Ard worked at Rice University’s School of Social Sciences and spent over a decade directing government relations programs in Washington, DC.
Ard earned her bachelor’s degree from John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio.
Victoria Jupp
Victoria Jupp is the policy assistant to the director of the Baker Institute, Ambassador David M. Satterfield. Jupp serves as researcher and communications manager for the Director’s Office. She coordinates partnerships and events with government, academic, nonprofit, and industry stakeholders and serves as a production lead for the institute’s podcast series. Prior to joining the Baker Institute, Jupp served as a higher education administrator designing undergraduate co-curricular service-learning and research programming and formed public-private partnerships with corporate and nonprofit community members in Houston.
Jupp graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Houston and received a Master of Public Policy from the Hobby School of Public Affairs. Her research explores executive branch policymaking, U.S. monetary policy, drug policy, and harm-reduction approaches to public health.
Ben Stevenson
Ben Stevenson is the Baker Institute’s director of operations and planning, with responsibility for administrative teams managing events, A/V, and building operations in James A. Baker III Hall. He also serves as the institute’s human resources liaison and coordinates with campus administration and other university departments to evaluate and address operational needs, opportunities, and cross-institutional issues.
Stevenson joined the Baker Institute in 2012 and served as policy assistant to the director until 2016. His prior experience includes research on social, economic, and political issues across the Middle East and Central Asia with the Department of State’s Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs and private research organizations in Washington, D.C. He graduated with a Master of Arts in Arab Studies from the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and History from Rice University.
Serena Storm
Serena Storm serves as the events assistant at the Baker Institute. In this capacity, she works alongside the institute’s administrative and research staff to prepare for speakers, members, and guests partaking in each event. She regularly interacts with Baker Roundtable members and supports guest speakers to procure logistical arrangements. Storm expressly organizes Baker Institute Student Forum events, and typically coordinates department interns.
Storm holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Administration from the University of Oklahoma. While pursuing her studies, she participated in summer internships in western China and eastern Turkey.
Alisha Lara
Alisha Lara is the front office coordinator at the Baker Institute. She is responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations in close collaboration with staff, visitors, and student interns. She provides logistical support to events and serves as the point of contact for general administration and special projects. She also provides support to the Director’s Office.
Lara is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in business management.
Tegan Gutierrez
Tegan Gutierrez is the office operations manager for the Baker Institute. She works closely with staff, visitors, vendors, and interns to ensure smooth day-to-day operations throughout the institute. Gutierrez serves as the point of contact for general office administration, building maintenance, renovation projects, and vendor management. Her specialties include employee onboarding, office inventory management, and logistic problem-solving.
In addition to an anthropology degree from American University, Gutierrez earned a Master of Business Administration in Global Management from the University of Houston at Victoria.