As president of the AARP Foundation, Jo Ann Jenkins provides leadership across the Foundation areas of development, litigation and programs. The AARP Foundation, AARP’s charitable arm, is dedicated to helping struggling, low-income older Americans meet their basic needs for food, shelter and medical care so they, too, can age with dignity. The AARP Foundation serves more than 5 million vulnerable seniors every year.

With more than 25 years of extensive leadership, management, planning and business experience, Ms. Jenkins is well-known in governmental, philanthropic and private sectors. She came to the AARP Foundation from the Library of Congress, where she was its chief operating officer. There, she managed a staff of more than 4,000 and an operating budget of more than $600 million. As the second-in-command at the Library, she regularly testified before various congressional committees, worked with members of Congress and staff to enhance the Library, its exhibits and collections, and served as the Library’s official spokesperson.

Ms. Jenkins is recognized for launching innovative, dynamic and far-reaching initiatives, including spearheading the new “Library of Congress Experience.” Her efforts generated more than $20 million in fundraising to underwrite this groundbreaking program. In addition, the project garnered several national and international awards, solidifying her reputation as a recognized leader who brought transformational change to one of America’s oldest and most beloved institutions.

Most recently, Ms. Jenkins was one of 11 recipients of the 2010 11th Annual Women in Technology Leadership Award. The Leadership Awards honor women who have excelled as mentors, leaders and role models in their professional endeavors and communities, and embody the Women in Technology mission to advance women in technology from the classroom to the boardroom by providing advocacy, leadership development, networking, mentoring and technology education.