Gardenhire joins Illinois governor's staff

Feb. 21, 2019

Ramon Gardenhire, a 2000 Slippery Rock University graduate with a degree in political science, was appointed by Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker as deputy chief of staff for policy in the Office of the Governor.

In his new role, Gardenhire will help advance the governor's policy agenda. Gardenhire previously served as the vice president of policy for the AIDS Foundation of Chicago, overseeing AFC's advocacy and policy work at the federal, state and local levels. Gardenhire was the AFC's director of government relations from 2011-13, as he helped expand Medicaid coverage for half a million Illinoisans and helped enact comprehensive sexual health education for Illinois students.