Jennifer M. Luray

With nearly 20 years of experience in politics, Jennifer Luray is currently Chief of Staff to Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-Maryland). Jenny serves as the principal political, communications and policy advisor to Senator Mikulski, the third highest-ranking Democrat in the U.S. Senate and the dean of the women Senators.

Jenny works closely with the Democratic leadership in the Senate as well as with Democratic party and campaign organizations. She manages a staff of 45 people, including Appropriations and Labor committee staff.

Prior to her work in the Senate, Jenny served in the White House as Director of the Office for Women's Initiatives and Deputy Assistant to the President. Upon her appointment, President Clinton said that Jenny's "extensive background in the primary issues concerning women will be enormously helpful as we continue our strong advocacy on behalf of women and families."

Jenny was the principal White House liaison to women's groups and to government officials running women's prgrams. She traveled around the United States speaking about the Administration's priorities for women and families and assisted in the development of policy related to equal pay, reproductive rights and child care.

Prior to serving in the White House, Jenny was Legislative Director for Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY) where she handled health, education and labor appropriations, women's health and family planning issues. Jenny was the key Hill strategist behind the passage of landmark bipartisan contraceptive coverage legislation.

Jenny's experience on Capitol Hill also includes work as policy analyst for the House Democratic Study Group and researcher for the Joint Economic Committee.

Before coming to Washington, Jenny worked in the labor movement in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. She ran the Harvard University Trade Union Program, organized a contract campaign for SEIU Local 76, and coordinated a statewide effort to advocate for improvements in the workers' compensation system.

Jenny has spoken extensively in the areas of the federal budget and appropriations process; women's and family policy; and dealing effectively with Congress. She has been featured at political trainings organized by Emily's List, NARAL, and the Women's Leadership Forum of the Democratic National Committee. She has made presentations to groups such as the American Medical Association, and the National Federation of Women's Clubs.

Her international work includes presentations to the Council of Women World Leaders and the Canada-USA Businesswomen's Trade Summit. Through the European Union Visitors Programme, Jenny traveled to London and Brussels to meet with European women elected leaders and government officials. She recently returned from Northern Ireland where she joined Senator Mikulski to assist women leaders involved in the peace process.

Jenny earned her M.P.A. from Harvard University Kennedy School of Government in 1991 and her A.B. in Sociology from Brown University in 1983.