Jennifer Roberts (politician)

Jennifer Roberts
Roberts in January 2016
58th Mayor of Charlotte
Incumbent
Assumed office December 7, 2015
Preceded by	Dan Clodfelter
Member of the Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners
In office 2004–2012
Personal details
Born	Jennifer Watson Roberts Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Manley Roberts
Children	Montana Manley Jr.
Education	East Mecklenburg High School
Alma mater	UNC-Chapel Hill Johns Hopkins University University of Toronto
Religion	Episcopal Church (United States)
Website	jenniferrobertsformayor.com

Jennifer Watson Roberts is an American diplomat and politician who serves as the 58th and current mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina. She was elected on November 3, 2015 having previously served four terms on the Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners. In, 2012 she was the Democratic nominee for the United States House of Representatives, North Carolina 9th District.

Roberts was raised in Charlotte, North Carolina. She graduated from East Mecklenburg High School in 1978, and from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, which she attended on a Morehead Scholarship. Roberts earned two master's degrees in international affairs from Johns Hopkins University and from the University of Toronto.

She worked as a diplomat for four years with the United States Department of State, serving in the Dominican Republic as a consular officer and then as a political officer on the Mexico desk before returning to Charlotte.

During her years in Charlotte, Roberts has been director of the Mayor’s International Cabinet, a lending officer in international corporate banking at First Union, and executive director of the Charlotte World Affairs Council.

Roberts has served on the boards of ArtsTeach, the Centralina Council of Governments, the Charlotte Chamber, the Girls Scouts Hornets Nest Council, Keep Mecklenburg Beautiful, and the Women’s Commission. She is a recipient of the Maya Angelou Women Who Lead award.