Diane Grigsby Jackson serves as the Division Director for the Department of Human Services division of Family and Community Services. The division is responsible for programs that serve 2.9 million Illinois citizens from birth to death, including such programs as the Women, Infants and Children program (WIC), Early Intervention program (EI), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (TANF), Childcare Assistance Program (CCAP), Medicaid, and other adult service and basic support programs.

Grigsby Jackson brings over 20 years of leadership experience in the public, private, non-for profit, and philanthropic sectors. Prior to joining the department of Human Services, she served as senior advisor of Strategic Partnerships for AARP. In this role, Grigsby Jackson lead new market development and expansion for AARP’s Experience Corps program. Under her leadership, AARP successfully launched new programs in Chicago, IL and Phoenix, AZ, as well as expanded programs in Washington, DC, Philadelphia, PA, and New York City, NY.

Grigsby Jackson formed an independent consulting practice that included clients such as the Annie E. Casey Foundation, the state of Georgia Department Public Health, Cambium Learning, and Voyager Expanded Learning. Her experience in education leadership also includes tenure as Chief of Staff for Chicago Public Schools and Acting Chief of Staff for the School District of Philadelphia; two of the largest urban districts in the country. There, she played a pivotal role in implementing major school reform initiatives that effectively improved student performance outcomes, school leadership, and accountability. In addition, Grigsby Jackson has earned a reputation for achieving success in large-scale system management thanks to her work with the City of Chicago. She posseses a deep understanding of pragmatic issues that impede organizational growth and successful performance outcomes.

To complement her mastery of management skills, Grigsby Jackson is a certified trainer in the Covey Four Disciplines of Execution and has exercised these disciplines in her service on numerous executive boards and local school councils. In addition to holding a master’s degree in Public Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, she has participated in the Harvard Graduate School of Education continuing education program for early childhood literacy.
A mother of two, Ms. Grigsby Jackson is well known in her community as a long-time advocate for children with learning differences and parent engagement opportunities.