Narissa Johnson has over three years of research, customer service, communication and administrative experience in a variety of industries from telecom to biotechnology, and firms and non-profits, including the Heritage Foundation, the Biotechnology Industry Organization and the Citizen's Network for Foreign Affairs. Narissa has a background in telecoms, international economics, business and finance issues and personal knowledge of and interest in issues concerning Southeast Asia. She speaks Bahasa Melayu.

Narissa holds an MA in International Trade and Investment Policy from the George Washington University in Washington, DC, and a BA in International Relations from Syracuse University. She was born and raised in Malaysia, but currently resides in the Washington, DC area.