Katie Zacharia: New White House Press Secretary Replacing Karoline Leavitt
Katie Zacharia’s Education: Pepperdine University and Law School
Katie Zacharia studied at Pepperdine University in California before earning her law degree from Pepperdine Caruso School of Law in 2011.
Her educational background helped establish the foundation for a career that combined political communications with legal work.
Pepperdine University is a private university in Malibu, California, with programs in liberal arts, business, law and other disciplines. Its law school is known as Pepperdine Caruso School of Law.
Zacharia’s subsequent work in Washington and Beijing demonstrates how her education became part of a professional path that crossed political, legal and international environments.
Pepperdine University and Her Early Interest in Politics
While attending Pepperdine University, Zacharia became involved in Republican political activities in Washington, D.C.
According to published biographical reporting, she first traveled to Washington in 2006 to work as a part-time intern for the Republican National Committee.
The experience provided early exposure to party politics and the professional environment surrounding American elections.
For students interested in political careers, internships with party organizations can offer opportunities to learn about campaign operations, political messaging, voter outreach and the relationship between public policy and electoral strategy.
Zacharia subsequently gained experience in the White House Office of Political Affairs during the second term of President George W. Bush.
This early experience placed her within the broader Republican political network before she later pursued a legal career.
Pepperdine Caruso School of Law
Zacharia earned her law degree in 2011.
Legal education can provide a foundation for careers in government, public policy, corporate communications and political advocacy because it develops skills in interpreting complex information, constructing arguments and evaluating legal responsibilities.
Her subsequent legal work in Beijing gave her exposure to international business and legal practice.
She has also been associated with Pepperdine Caruso School of Law through its Board of Visitors, according to published profiles.
The combination of legal training and political experience is relevant to the White House press secretary role because presidential communications often involve complicated questions about executive authority, federal regulations, court decisions and constitutional responsibilities.
Although the press secretary is not the administration’s chief legal adviser, an understanding of legal terminology and institutional processes can be useful when communicating about legal disputes and government actions.
October 10, 2026 | 6:47 pm
