Mary Jane Gallagher
Mary Jane Gallagher is the President & CEO of the National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association. She brings to this important job a no-nonsense, straight-talking approach which can only be found in a woman born and bred in the Appalachian foothills of West Virginia. Her progressive yet independent sensibilities have helped to invigorate an association whose members provide a service that is at once vital to society and under constant attack by groups dedicated to decreasing the scope of our public health system.
Gallagher creates opportunities for the association’s members to counter those attacks. Members are helping to win support for access to comprehensive family planning for the uninsured and those living in poverty through constant engagement of public policymakers and other key stakeholders.
Gallagher is certainly no neophyte in the women’s health arena or in Washington, D.C. Her storied resume includes more than 20 years of federal and state policy and communications expertise. She has served as the Chief Operating Officer of two of the largest national membership associations: most recently, the Public Education Network and, from 2004-06, the League of Conservation Voters. Prior to her work with the League, Gallagher also served as the COO of NARAL Pro-Choice America from 2001-2004. Gallagher’s leadership equipped these groups, all of which wield considerable influence in Washington, with successful organizational leadership.
You can also add business owner to Gallagher’s accomplishments. For 15 years, she was CEO of the Gallagher Widmeyer Group, a for-profit firm Gallagher founded, which provided public affairs and communications support to non-profits in health care and education. Earlier in her career, Gallagher served two governors. She served as press secretary to former West Virginia Governor Jay Rockefeller and she was also the director of policy and communications for former Governor Lawton Chiles of Florida. She also served as a correspondent for the MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour.
Gallagher is a fierce advocate for women’s health and family planning. Her commitment to non-profit efficiency and her communications acumen perfectly anchor her belief that all people deserve access to services which will help them act responsibly, stay healthy and plan for strong families.
This page last updated September 2, 2008 15:00 .