JoAnn Jenkins

CEO, AARP

AARP Innovation@50+ 2017

Jenkins began her career with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, later moving to the US. Department of Transportation and U.S. Department of Agriculture in a variety of leadership roles with increasing responsibility. Interlaced with her public service, she served in several private consulting firms, advising major corporations in their development and implementation of diversity and organizational strategy. In 1994 she was asked to join the Library of Congress as Chief of Staff, becoming its Chief Operating Officer in 2007. She led the development and launch of innovative initiatives that transformed the Library’s workforce into “knowledge navigators,” created the Library of Congress Experience, an interactive pathway offering access to the Library’s incomparable collections, and built strong, mutually-supportive relationships with private sector sponsors.

Today, Jenkins leads AARP, the world’s largest non-profit, nonpartisan membership organization, harnessing the power and passion of almost 2,000 staff members, 60,000 volunteers and numerous strategic partners.