Jennifer Chang Hetterly

Editor in Chief, Palo Alto Matters

Jennifer is a founder and editor in chief of Palo Alto Matters. She creates and curates commentary, analysis, and news coverage to help readers stay informed about local government, connect with grassroots citizen groups, and engage more effectively in the civic process. Palo Alto Matters’ circulation includes residents from every Palo Alto neighborhood along with interested citizens in nearby Bay Area communities. Subscribers include elected officials, board and commission members, city staff, and local news media. Jennifer is the former Chair of both the Parks and Recreation Commission and the Facilities Subcommittee of the Cubberley Advisory Committee. She served on the Citizen Advisory Committee for the Comprehensive Plan and as has been an invited panelist for the Aspen Institute’s Dialogue on Libraries and Community Services. Before turning to local civic endeavors, she served in the Clinton Administration at the US Department of Health and Human Services as Director of Intergovernmental Affairs and Senior Advisor in the Administration for Children and Families. Jennifer received her Bachelor’s degree from Brown University and her JD, cum laude, from Georgetown Law Center.

A Palo Alto native, Jennifer grew up in the Midtown neighborhood and returned there with her family in 2004.