Jen has worked in health journalism and digital media for two decades. A Bay Area native with a passion for writing from a young age, she studied journalism at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. After college, Jen resettled in San Francisco where she first developed an interest in science when she took an aeronautics class at City College. 

Smitten with aviation, she decided to become an FAA-licensed aircraft mechanic, then worked building satellites and fixing planes. When the industry restructured and outsourced her job, she returned to her first love, working her way up at various health websites as an editorial researcher, writer, video producer, and editor.

In 2017, Jen moved from the Berkeley area to Sacramento to work for environmental epidemiologist Dr. Irva Hertz-Picciotto at the UC Davis Environmental Health Sciences Center (EHSC). Jen established EHSC’s digital programming, assisted with community engagement efforts around COVID-19 and wildfire research, produced video projects with PBS, and was recognized for her work by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, the American Public Health Association, and the Northern California Emmys. She now splits her time between EHSC and the Center for Occupational and Environmental Health.

Becoming a digital strategist was a natural progression for Jen, which she attributes to her range of interests and job skills. Combining a technical knowledge of algorithms and websites with her love of storytelling and obsession with engagement, she’s avid about leveraging the good that can come from metrics and health data.

Outside of her job, Jen is active in mutual aid work and has organized several successful fundraisers for the Sacramento Food Bank and other community organizations.