As the director of service strategy, Jenny guides MCAN's efforts to leverage service programs that help increase college access and success across the state of Michigan. She provides guidance to the AdviseMI and College Completion Corps programs and seeks to maximize the potential of service opportunities to achieve Sixty by 30. Jenny accomplishes this by advancing the work of MCAN, LCANs, Michigan Promise Zones, and other partner organizations.

Jenny has worked in Michigan's nonprofit sector since coming to the state in 2011. After graduating from Coe College with a Bachelor of Arts in global development studies, she earned a Master of Arts in international development from Ohio University. Jenny lived and worked abroad in South Korea before coming to Michigan where she served two terms as an AmeriCorps VISTA in Jackson and Lansing. After managing Michigan Nonprofit Association's statewide VISTA program, Jenny became civic engagement manager at the United Way of Genesee County and chief service officer for the City of Flint. In this role, she led the Flint National Service Accelerator, a place-based initiative to grow the number and effectiveness of national service members in the greater Flint community. During her leadership, Jenny helped launch four AmeriCorps and VISTA programs, engaged more than a dozen AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps teams, and grew the number of annual service members from 25 to over 200. While serving as director of community impact for the United Way of Genesee County, Jenny coordinated countywide civic engagement opportunities and oversaw community impact grantmaking for the organization.

With both parents having careers in higher education, college was the clear next step for Jenny after she graduated from high school. She had tremendous mentors — teachers, coaches, family — who helped her find her path, including choosing a college, applying for scholarships, selecting a major and even navigating extracurricular activities and on-campus employment. Jenny realized the power of mentors and financial aid to help her access postsecondary opportunities and is committed to helping other students find and excel on their own paths.

Jenny serves as a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters and is a board member and athlete with the Lansing Area Women's Soccer league. She enjoys cooking, gardening, crossword puzzles, reading classic mysteries, and outside adventures of all types. Most of Jenny's time is spent navigating the joys and challenges of parenting two fierce daughters.