Ashley Jenkins, deputy chief legal counsel to the Illinois Senate President, is joining the Illinois Health and Hospital Association (IHA) as its director of government relations, effective Dec. 31. Jenkins will focus on IHA’s advocacy to state legislators, legislative staff, state agencies and other stakeholders to advance the Association’s policy and legislative agenda.
“Ashley has extensive legislative and legal experience, working with the Senate President, the General Assembly and a variety of key stakeholders on a wide range of critical issues affecting Illinoisans, including health care,” said David Gross, senior vice president, government relations, IHA. “For example, she played an integral role in drafting, analyzing and negotiating significant legislative measures, including the Alternatives to Opioids Act of 2018, medical cannabis and minimum wage laws. I am pleased to have her join our team.”
Prior to serving as deputy chief legal counsel, Jenkins staffed numerous Senate committees, including Executive Appointments, Gaming, Judiciary and the Senate Special Committee on Restorative Justice, as well as the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR).
Jenkins has a Juris Doctor from Northern Illinois University College of Law and a Bachelor of Science in business administration from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. In 2017, she was a fellow in the University of Illinois Institute of Government & Public Affairs’ Edgar Fellows Program, which focuses on developing leadership and governing capacity in Illinois.
