Jennifer Garrett is the State of Wisconsin’s deputy secretary of the Department of Safety and Professional Services.

In that role since August 2022, she serves as the chief of staff for the secretary, managing external affairs for the agency including media, legislative, and external stakeholders. Additionally, she is the department liaison to the governor’s office and other agencies.

Prior to her appointment, Jennifer served as the department’s director of public affairs.  She joined the agency in July 2019 as communications director and has more than 25 years of experience in public affairs across the private, public, nonprofit and higher education sectors. Jennifer is passionate about fostering greater engagement in government processes, particularly rule promulgation, as a way to shape policy.

Jennifer currently serves on the Wisconsin Higher Educational Aids Board, is a member of the Dane County Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission, and is a 2024 Council of State Governments Henry Toll Fellow.

A native of Indiana, Jennifer has a bachelor degree in communications and English from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. She earned her J.D. from the Indiana University School of Law in Bloomington, Indiana.