Lisa Desjardins Bio
Lisa Desjardins (born Lisa Goddard) is an award-winning American political journalist and national correspondent. She serves as a Capitol Hill Correspondent for PBS News Hour. Based in Washington, D.C., she covers breaking news from the U.S. Capitol. She also travels across the country to report on how federal policies affect everyday citizens. Since joining the permanent network news team in October 2014, Desjardins has built a massive national reputation for breaking down highly complex fiscal information, legislative spending bills, and deep-seated political disagreements into accessible, universal stories for her audience.
Desjardins’ distinguished broadcasting career spans nearly three decades of high-profile political coverage. She previously spent nearly ten years as a senior correspondent and Capitol Hill reporter for CNN. Her extensive media path also includes prominent reporting roles for the Associated Press, Reuters, and local affiliates WIS-TV and WBTW-TV in South Carolina. She has reported on the ground for six consecutive U.S. presidential election cycles.
Lisa famously broke the initial news of the legislative compromise to lower the Confederate flag from the South Carolina state house dome. Her exceptional field journalism has earned immense critical acclaim. She won a prestigious George Foster Peabody Award for her brave, on-the-scene live reporting during the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol. She has also earned the Everett Dirksen Award for Distinguished Coverage of Congress from the National Press Foundation and the Joan Barone Award for Excellence in Journalism.
Desjardins discovered her deep passion for politics and social logic during her childhood. She pursued her higher education at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. She graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in 1994. Lisa then moved to Russia to earn a graduate-level degree in Russian Studies from the Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia. She finalized her technical media training at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, earning her Master’s degree in 1997.
Lisa Desjardins Age
How old is Lisa Desjardins? Desjardins was born on January 29, 1972, in Hawaii. She is 54 years old as of early 2026. She celebrates her birthday on the 29th of January every year alongside close friends and newsroom peers.
Lisa Desjardins Family
Lisa was born in Hawaii but spent her primary childhood upbringing in Annandale, Virginia. Her father was the late Thomas Bohner Goddard, a disciplined U.S. Naval officer who retired at the rank of captain before working successfully as a college instructor. Her mother is Patricia Flanagan, who provided a highly structured and supportive household that backed Lisa’s early ambitions. Lisa grew up in an exceptionally large, vibrant family environment. She was raised alongside three full siblings and seven step-siblings from her father’s side. Her parents heavily encouraged her interest in historical texts and current events from a very young age.
Lisa Desjardins’ Husband
Desjardins is married to her husband, Jason Desjardins. The couple celebrated their official wedding ceremony on October 6, 2007. They share a deeply loving and stable marriage spanning nearly two decades. Together, they have one child, a son named Max Desjardins, who was born in 2016. The family resides together in their primary home in Alexandria, Virginia, with their pets. Lisa loves balancing her late-night political reporting schedule by spending her free hours traveling with her husband and son, reading, and relaxing at home.
Lisa Desjardins’ Height
Desjardins stands at an approximate height of 5 feet 7 inches.
Lisa Desjardins Net Worth
Desjardins has an estimated net worth of between $1 million and $3 million as of 2026. This financial standing is primarily built upon her steady, multi-decade career as a national political correspondent for global news networks. This includes her long tenure at CNN, various literary contributions, and her primary anchor contract with PBS.
