Meet jen SCHULTZ

Jen has lived in Duluth, MN for 20 years, where she is an economist, educator and union member at UMD. She grew up in a small town, raised by her mother after witnessing her father’s addiction to alcohol. Jen and her sister learned to be responsible at a young age while their mother was working and trying to better their life–experiences which have helped to shape her into a hardworking and compassionate advocate for others.

Jen’s mother, a retired therapist and educator, is the daughter of Dutch and Polish immigrant farmers. Jen’s late father was a U.S. Air Force Vietnam War veteran who returned home to serve his community as a firefighter and paramedic. Jen’s parents reunited when she was an adult, six years before her father lost his battle with a liver tumor. Jen’s parents’ struggles, strength, compassion, and perseverance shaped the woman she is today – grounded in the belief that we can all do better when we help one another.

Jen earned a Ph.D in health economics and paid for her education using student loans, scholarships, and by working multiple jobs, starting with parking cars at the county fair at age 14, then working at a restaurant and grocery store. Today she lives in Duluth with her husband (a criminologist) and two teenage sons. Jen previously served eight years representing Duluth in the Minnesota Legislature, working with both Republicans and Democrats only in a divided government, where neither party had complete control, to achieve results. 

While in the Legislature, Jen served as Chair of House Human Services Finance & Policy Committee where she advanced measures to improve access to affordable healthcare and reduce prescription drug prices. She also served on Ways & Means, Taxes, Health Finance and Redistricting Committees, as Vice Chair of the Council of State Government Great Lakes Legislative Caucus Executive Board, and as a Commissioner on the Great Lakes Commission where she advocated for the protection of the Great Lakes, climate resilience, restoration of habitat, invasive species, and economic development. 

During her legislative career, Jen was successful in bringing millions of dollars in bonding projects to Duluth, including the Essentia hospital and medical district development and securing federal funds to clean up the St. Louis River. She has championed many measures to improve the lives of the Minnesotans, including:

• increasing access to affordable health coverage

• reducing the cost of prescription drugs

• protecting the elderly in long-term care facilities

• increasing wages for personal care assistants

• investing in home- and community-based services

• expanding age-friendly communities

• closing corporate tax loopholes

• funding historic health and human services bills with bipartisan support  

In her free time, Jen enjoys spending time with her husband, Rob, and their two boys. These days she frequents track meets and basketball games, and they also enjoy hiking and attending UMD and Minnesota sporting events as a family.