300 Main Street, Suite 200, Dubuque, IA 52001
Mon – Thurs 8 am – 5 pm, Fri 8 am – 12 pm
Biography
Jennifer was born in Madison, Wisconsin, lived three years on Whiteman AFB in Missouri, eight years in Kansas City, Kansas, and graduated from Normal Community High School in Bloomington, Illinois. For the past thirteen years her roots have been in Dubuque, Iowa, and teaching Economics at a local college. Her values are based in being self-sufficient while reaching out to help your neighbor. Both grandfathers served in WW II with the Navy and her father is retired Air Force. Her deep interest in History was cultivated at the family dinner table because of the history and stories she learned there.
Jennifer earned a BS degree in Mathematics and a Masters Degree in Economics from Illinois State University. After working for an insurance company as an Actuarial Research Analyst and tutoring at a local community college, she returned to Northern Illinois University to earn a Ph.D. in Economics. Choosing to teach at a smaller college allows her the opportunity to get to know her students and give them the attention she believes they deserve. Jennifer plans to give that same level of attention to the residents of District 72!
Improving the environment in a community has been a motivating force for Jennifer, and she has been actively involved in working toward those improvements. On the college campus, Jennifer has served on the Benefits, Curriculum, Assessment, and Retention Committees while serving as Faculty Advisor to College Republicans and Young Americans for Liberty. Having a firm foundation has been the basis of her being a member of Grandview Methodist Church and as a member serving on the hospitality, bells, safety teams, David Ramsey Financial Services, Administrative Board member and study team member.
Shortly after moving to Dubuque, Jennifer attended her first Republican Caucus in 2010 and has been actively involved with the Republican Party since then. She became co-chair of Dubuque Republican Party in January 2013 and Chair of Dubuque Republican Party in May 2014 to January 2019 when she stepped aside to encourage new leadership and ideas. Jennifer was elected to fill a vacancy on Iowa State Central Committee in the fall of 2015 to present. She previously chaired the Organization Committee, which made changes to streamline operations and increase transparency at the Republican Party of Iowa.
Jennifer is a strong supporter of the Second Amendment. She is a licensed Conceal and Carry person, and is a certified NRA Pistol Instructor and NRA Range Safety Officer to help individuals learn how to handle weapons respectfully and responsibly. Being a member of the Board of Directors at Izaak Walton League of America conservation organization and the Shot Tower Board keeps her current on any changes or challenges that occur for responsible licensed gun owners and conservation efforts.
Jennifer came to Dubuque not knowing anyone and leaving her support system several hundred miles away. What resulted was discovering a community and state that completely embraced her with acceptance and love. In fact, Jennifer did such a good job of telling the benefits of living in the Dubuque area that her parents move to Dubuque in 2017 and agree that it is a truly wonderful community.
In 2022, Jennifer married John Kielty, a native Dubuquer. Her family has grown to include two adult step-children, and several In-Laws.
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