Dr. Katie Jenner was appointed as Indiana’s first secretary of education by Governor Eric J. Holcomb, effective Jan. 11, 2021. Prior to her appointment, Jenner served as senior education advisor to Governor Holcomb and provided guidance on statewide policy and initiatives for preschool, K-12, and higher education.

Jenner began her career in education as a career and technical education teacher in Kentucky. After moving to Indiana, she held various administrator roles, including assistant superintendent for Madison Consolidated Schools. She later served as the vice president of K-12 initiatives and statewide partnerships for Ivy Tech Community College, where she led statewide strategies and formed partnerships among K-12 education, career centers, and Ivy Tech.

Jenner is committed to ensuring all students are prepared for the competitive realities of our 21st-century economy. She and her team are working to build capacity, spark innovation, and forge productive partnerships at all levels of Indiana’s PK-12 education system that will support educators and empower families.

Jenner holds a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Kentucky. She also holds a master’s in business education from the University of Kentucky, an M.B.A. through a Woodrow Wilson Fellowship at Indiana State University, and a bachelor’s in Business from Transylvania University in Kentucky.