Policy Analyst
Early Learning & Care
Hometown
West Jordan, Utah and Hiram, Georgia
What was the most valuable lesson you learned as a child, and how has it influenced your life today?
I learned that even though systems might be broken, to keep fighting. As a child who had DCFS come into her home and feel unheard, I understand the importance of giving children a voice. It was hard to not feel believed, and I hope to spread the message to believe children and listen to what they are telling you is happening in their homes.
What was your favorite meal or dish that your family would make, and do you still enjoy it today?
As a child, I became obsessed with Ceasar Salad. To this day, still love it. It might have been because when I was 9, I contracted pneumonia and was rushed to Primary Children's hospital because of my low oxygen levels. I was so excited to be there because I didn't have to worry about feeling hungry and could pick anything off the menu. I chose Chicken Caesar Salad almost every day.
What was your favorite hobby or extracurricular activity as a child, and did you pursue it further later in life?
As a child I loved to dance, I loved performing and being on stage. I was able to continue dance throughout high school and be a part of a hip hop team. I now enjoy going out Latin Dancing and doing more partner dance. I recently tried ecstatic dance and recommend it to anyone. If you can overcome your belief systems on the ecstatic dance floor, you can do anything.
What was your favorite thing about being a child, and do you try to hold onto that spirit as an adult?
I loved traveling and exploration. Being a military child, and having one parent in Utah, and the other in Georgia, it opened up some amazing experiences taking roadtrips across the country, living in new places and meeting new people. As an adult, I love any chance I get to travel somewhere new and meet people along the way.
What advice would you give to your younger self, based on what you've learned throughout your life so far?
It was never your fault: the abuse, the shame, the feeling of inadequacy, it was never because of you. As a child it is not your job to take care of the adults in your life, they are supposed to take care of you. You are strong, but you shouldn't have to be. You deserve someone who cares about how you feel. You deserve to be seen and heard. You will be the one who needs to learn how to love yourself, instead of waiting for someone on the outside for that love. You have to face the darkness to get to the light.
Biography
Jen has a passion for giving Utah Children a Voice, as someone who grew up in a home impacted by Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). She has a passion for bettering early childhood education as she is a single mom to a child impacted by these policies.
Jen has Master’s in International Affairs and a B.S. in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism from the University of Utah, and brings a strong background in government, community partnerships, along with a deep commitment to child advocacy and systems-level change. Before joining Voices for Utah Children, Jen worked for Davis County, where she led community partnerships and sponsorships in collaboration with local government, nonprofits, and businesses.
She also volunteered with Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) to support children navigating the foster care system and worked closely with New American refugee families in Salt Lake City to ensure equitable access to resources.Her graduate thesis focused on the critical role of early childhood education in strengthening both Utah’s economy and the global workforce, emphasizing the long-term economic benefits of investing in children from birth through age five.
