Jen is the Chief Operating Officer at NAMI Chicago. Jen leads NAMI Chicago’s operations, legislative advocacy and provides key support for the NAMI Chicago’s state grant programs. Jen’s policy expertise includes the relationship between mental health and insurance coverage, as well as the impact of individual mental health within the criminal court system. She served as co-chair of the statewide Illinois Mental Health Opportunities for Youth Diversion Task Force, which focused on youth diversion from the criminal court system and accessing early mental health intervention.

Prior to joining NAMI Chicago, Jen served as a Health Planning Coordinator at UIC MidAmerica Center for Public Health Practice. Jen previously worked as a policy analyst in former Governor Pat Quinn’s administration, where she served as a lead on implementing the Affordable Care Act in Illinois and specialized in health care reform. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and Sociology from the University of Wisconsin at Madison and a Masters Degree in Health Policy and Administration from the University of Illinois at Chicago’s School of Public Health.