Corinna Zarek

Corinna Zarek is the senior adviser for open government to the U.S. chief technology officer at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. She works with federal executive branch agencies to develop and implement open government initiatives, and coordinates outreach with nongovernmental stakeholders. She also works with government and civil society leaders around the world to promote freedom of information and open government through the global Open Government Partnership and through direct engagement in other countries.

Previously, Zarek was staff attorney for the federal Office of Government Information Services at the National Archives, the office that serves as the Freedom of Information Act ombudsman. There, she assisted FOIA requesters and agencies in resolving disputes, and reviewed agencies’ FOIA compliance.

Before joining the government, Zarek was the freedom of information director at The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, where she assisted journalists with legal issues, and worked on freedom of information litigation, legislation and policy. She also practiced for a law firm in Washington, specializing in administrative law, and previously wrote for The Des Moines Register. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Iowa, where she was editor of the student-run newspaper, The Daily Iowan. She also received her J.D. from Iowa, where she wrote for the Iowa Law Review

 Zarek is vice president of the D.C. Open Government Coalition and works closely with colleagues in the National Freedom of Information Coalition. She also teaches a communication law class at American University.