WASHINGTON, D.C. – September 28, 2009 – Jennifer M. Luray, a well-respected government affairs and public policy leader with extensive health care experience and strong ties to both Capitol Hill and the executive branch, has been named Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Policy of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, the leader of the global breast cancer movement. Luray will also serve as President of the group’s sister organization, the Susan G. Komen for the Cure® Advocacy Alliance.
“The addition of Jennifer underscores Komen for the Cure’s commitment to secure better health care for everyone and to ensure that the voices of the 2.5 million breast cancer survivors and the people who love them are heard on both sides of Pennsylvania Avenue,” said Hala Moddelmog, president and CEO of Komen for the Cure. “Jennifer’s leadership will be critical as we build upon our growing advocacy efforts.”
Luray will head Komen’s Washington, D.C. office, including serving as the top liaison to the White House, Capitol Hill, and key policymakers on domestic and global health issues. Under her leadership, the 501c4 Komen Advocacy Alliance will continue to aggressively advocate at all levels of government for increased funding for research and access to potentially life-saving screening and treatment programs.
“Komen is known in Washington, D.C. as the face and voice of the breast cancer movement,” said Luray. “I look forward to ensuring that the needs of breast cancer patients and survivors are considered by our nation’s lawmakers during this critical time.”
Luray joins Komen from Abbott Laboratories, a global health care company, where she spent the past five years as its senior director of government affairs and policy. She provided corporate strategic guidance for Abbott’s pharmaceutical, diagnostic and device businesses to Capitol Hill, the executive branch, trade associations and non-profit organizations.
Prior to Abbott, she served in a variety of leadership roles in both the legislative and executive branches of government, most recently as Chief of Staff to Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-Maryland). In this role Jenny was the principal political, communications and policy advisor to the third highest-ranking Democrat in the U.S. Senate and the dean of the women Senators. She managed both the personal office and committee staff, which was responsible for the funding and oversight of key health care agencies, including the National Institutes of Health and the Food and Drug Administration, among others.
Jenny also served in the White House under President Bill Clinton as a Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of the Office for Women’s Initiatives and Outreach. As the principal liaison to women’s groups and to government officials running women’s programs, she helped develop the Administration’s policies related to women’s health, family planning and social security.
She currently serves on the board of directors of the Campaign for Public Health, an education and advocacy group working to strengthen the Centers for Disease Control through increased support for public health. She also serves on the board of directors of the Congressional Management Foundation, the 30-year old organization that provides training and management assistance to top-level congressional staff.
Jenny earned her M.P.A. from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government and her A.B. in Sociology from Brown University. She was a Visiting Senior Fellow at UCLA’s School of Public Affairs.
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