Vanessa and Alexandra Kerry are the beautiful daughters of Massachusetts politician, John Forbes Kerry. John Kerry served as the 68th United States Secretary of the State from 2013 to 2017. He was the democratic nominee in the 2004 U.S Presidential election. He however, lost the election to George W. Bush, the incumbent Republican. Vanessa is an American medical doctor and health administrator. She is the founder and CEO of a non-profit health system, Seed Global Health. Her sister Alexandra is an American filmmaker as well as a partner at Locomotive Films Production Company.
Vanessa and Alexandra Kerry’s Bio
Vanessa was born Vanessa Bradford Kerry on 31st December, 1976 in Boston, Massachusetts. She is the younger daughter of John Forbes Kerry and Julia Stimson Thornes, a writer. Alexandra on the other hand, was born as Alexandra Forbes Kerry on 5th September, 1973 in Concord, Massachusetts. She is the elder sister to Vanessa Kerry.
Vanessa and Alexandra Kerry spent the rest of their growing up years with their mother in Bozeman, Montana after their parents divorced in 1988. For their high school education, Vanessa attended Phillips Academy while Alexandra attended the Milton Academy, both in Massachusetts.
Everything About John Kerry’s Daughters
Vanessa Kerry’s Career
On completing her high school education, Vanessa enrolled at Yale University, graduating cum laude with a major in Biology in 1999. She thereafter proceeded to Harvard University where she earned her medical degree with honors. While studying at Harvard Medical School, Vanessa also attended the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine as well as the London School of Economics where she earned an M.Sc. in Health Policy, planning and Financing. While at Harvard, she also conducted a study on Immunization in Ghana where she interned with The Vaccine Fund. She further studied government relation for health and development in Rwanda.
On completing her studies, Vanessa Kerry took up a job at the General Hospital, Massachusetts. She also started the Global Health Service Corps (now Seed Global Health), a non-profit health system. The principal vision of the health system which she founded in 2011 is to create a world where each country has a strong health care workforce it needs to meet its health onus. Vanessa also works as the associate manager of Partnerships and Global Initiatives at MGH Global Health. She as well works as an associate professor at Harvard’s Faculty of Medicine.
Vanessa Kerry emerged the Draper Richards Kaplan Social Entrepreneur in 2013. She also appeared in Boston Magazine in 2014 for her work with the group. Vanessa has as well published many medical related topics in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Alexandra Kerry’s Career
On completing her high school education, Alexandra Kerry enrolled at Brown University to study Media, Anthropology and Modern Culture. She subsequently earned an MFA in directing from the American Film Institute (AFI) Conservatory.
Alexandra kicked off her career in 2004 when she released her short film, The Last Full Measure. The film which was shown at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival earned her “The Director of the Year Award” from the Film Institute. In 2008, she co-produced a documentary film, Be Like Others. As a television and film director, she has directed and co-produced many documentaries including the first season of MTV’s The Hill (2006), The Forest (2002), and many others. Alexandra has also played several roles in films and TV including Spartan (2004), and State and Main (2000).
In 2011, Alexandra joined Locomotive, a New York-based film production company founded by award-winning American producer, Lucy Barzun Donnelly in 2007. In 2012, she founded “Ad Your Voice”, a Political Action Committee which created avenue for voters to air their own ads in any reelection effort. She also co-founded Fictional Pictures, a New York based company and partner at Locomotive Films.
Alexandra Kerry published her first book, a memoir titled Notes from the Trail: Presidential Politics from the Inside Out in 2008. Alexandra serves on the board of National Parks Conservative Association. She is also a supporter of the American Ballet Theatre.
Vanessa and Alexandra Kerry’s Marital Lives
Vanessa and Alexander have both married. On 10th October, 2009, Vanessa tied the knot with Brian Vala Nahed in Boston, Massachusetts. Brian Vala is a Neurosurgeon; precisely a brain tumor and spinal disorder specialist. As a matter of fact, Dr. Nahed led the research targeted at creating the first blood test for brain tumors. With Brian, Alexandra has two children – a son and a daughter born in 2012 and 2015 respectively.
Alexandra Kerry on her own part, is married to Julien Dobbs Higginson, a cultural curator and producer. Julien works with several galleries in New York and has contributed immensely to their profile as a strategist and agent. The couple have one child together, a daughter named Isabelle Dobbs-Higginson.
Political Advocacy
In 2004, Vanessa and Alexandra Kerry campaigned for their father’s then senator John Kerry’s presidential bid. The duo introduced their advocacy program at the year’s Democratic National Convention. Their campaign mostly focused on health issues and tuition costs.
They also appeared in MTV shows in Miami where they made speeches in support of their father and encouraged voting. They as well focused on campaign stops at University campuses. During the campaign trail, Vanessa and Alexandra had the opportunity to appear alongside former Vice President Al Gore during a campaign stop at Hawaii.