Colleen Renk Zengoitabengoa examines state capacity and federal service delivery, with a focus on immigration processes.

Zengotitabengoa is a senior executive and legal advisor with over two decades of experience across the federal government. She held multiple roles during her 18-year tenure at USCIS, including in the Office of the Chief Counsel and Office of Policy and Strategy, and also served at the Department of Homeland Security, the White House Domestic Policy Council, and the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee. Her career spans legal leadership, policy development, interagency coordination, and program implementation. She is known for translating complex immigration law into actionable policy and operational strategy while advising senior leaders and building consensus across government and civil society.

Zengotitabengoa earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and French from the University of Richmond, a master’s degree in international affairs from American University, and a law degree from the American University Washington College of Law.