Jennifer Farris heads administrative operations for HHMI, with responsibilities at HHMI’s headquarters in Chevy Chase, MD, as well as HHMI's Janelia Research Campus in Ashburn, VA.
Jennifer Farris joined HHMI in 2005 as the director of campus services for the Janelia Research Campus in Ashburn, VA. Farris established the campus’s hospitality functions, including food services, conference services, fitness services, housing, and transportation. She later oversaw the addition of new services, including expansion of the pub operation, design and construction of a 60-unit apartment building, and design of a second 86-unit apartment building.
In 2011, Farris was promoted into a regional role and assumed responsibility for the hospitality and facilities operations at HHMI’s headquarters in Chevy Chase, MD. She oversees HHMI’s archives and facilitates institute-wide activities such as record-keeping, policy management, and emergency preparedness. She also oversees a team that coordinates charitable activity for employees of the Chevy Chase campus.
In 2015, Farris became head of administrative operations for HHMI, which includes coordinating certain cross-functional projects such as the implementation of new enterprise-wide software tools for the Institute. Farris develops and maintains operational strategies and continuous-improvement efforts that support the overall mission of HHMI.
Farris represents HHMI on the board of the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Chamber of Commerce.
Farris has a BA in English and History from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Prior to joining HHMI, she spent 15 years in the hotel industry, where she developed expertise in customer service and operational effectiveness.
