Alexandra “AJ” Jensen is a Vice President in the Higher Education Practice at McAllister & Quinn, where she has spent more than a decade supporting clients and helping grow the firm into the premier grants consulting and government relations firm in Washington, D.C. for higher education institutions.
A dedicated champion for higher education, AJ has helped clients identify and secure millions of dollars in federal, foundation, state, and congressionally directed (earmark) funding. In her current role, AJ helps implement the practice’s strategic priorities and leads a team managing a diverse portfolio of higher education clients, including public and private four‑ and two‑year institutions, as well as national and regional higher education associations.
AJ also played a central leadership role in the design, development, and launch of McAllister & Quinn’s Grants Intelligence Service, the only external funding information and resources portal curated exclusively for the higher education sector. Working closely with the firm’s Managing Partner and Vice Presidents, she helped shape the product’s strategy, development, and market positioning, and now manages a team responsible for maintaining and expanding the platform.
Previously, AJ served as a Director, Managing Director and Strategic Initiatives Team Leader within the Higher Education Practice. In these roles, she partnered with higher education leaders to develop and execute comprehensive funding strategies that generated millions of dollars in competitive external awards. She collaborated closely with leadership and the Strategic Initiatives team at McAllister & Quinn to improve internal operations and elevate the client experience, spearheading the launch of new service lines, the expansion of webinar programming, and the redesign of newsletters and outreach schedules.
AJ has a background in public affairs and grant writing. Prior to joining McAllister & Quinn, she worked at Cooper’s Ferry Partnership, an economic development organization in Camden, New Jersey. There, she designed, wrote, and managed more than $2 million in grant‑funded projects supported by the National Endowment for the Arts, U.S. Department of Transportation, Economic Development Administration, and the Kresge Foundation. Her work included close collaboration with the Mayor of Camden and New Jersey elected officials on initiatives focused on business development, public art, and park and trailway revitalization.
AJ holds an MBA from Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business and a bachelor’s degree from St. Lawrence University. A New Jersey native, she lives in Washington, DC with her husband and two children.
Affiliations & Awards
- American Planning Association (NJ Chapter) – Outstanding Implemented Plan Award
- Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission – Land Use Project of the Year
- International Economic Development Council – Annual Report Award Recipient
Media/Publications
- Press, “In Camden, Development Projects Kindle Hope,” New York Times, December 9, 2014
- Press, “Pop-up skate park gives Camden Youths an Outlet,” Philadelphia Inquirer, August 10, 2014
- Press, “Camden: Bright Lights, Happy Nights,” Philadelphia Inquirer, April 19, 2014