Jillian Gilchrest, MSW

Jillian Gilchrest was elected State Representative in 2018 after defeating a 23 year incumbent in a Democratic Primary. She joins the largest class of incoming women lawmakers in Connecticut history and across this Country. Prior to becoming a State Representative, Jillian served as the Director of Health Professional Outreach for the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Chair for the State’s Trafficking in Persons Council. Jillian has extensive experience advocating for women’s health and safety, in particular influencing public policy.

Jillian has worked as Executive Director of NARAL Pro-Choice Connecticut and Policy & Communications Director for Connecticut’s Sexual Assault Coalition. She helped draft Connecticut’s landmark campus sexual assault policy, the first of its kind in the nation. Jillian also successfully lobbied for legislation to study a system of paid family and medical leave and is actively working to see that program become a reality in Connecticut. As an advocate she helped lawmakers enact affirmative consent legislation and standards to address and prevent Connecticut’s rape kit backlog.

Jillian is recognized as “a woman to watch” by the Connecticut Women’s Education and Legal Fund. She is a co-organizer with Women's March Connecticut, has been published on The Huffington Post, and was a guest on WNPR’s Where We Live. Jillian holds a Masters Degree in Policy Practice from the University of Connecticut School of Social Work. She currently teaches Social Welfare Policy and Psychology of Women for the University of Saint Joseph. Jillian resides with her husband and two children in West Hartford.

Other sub-specialties within areas of expertise: rape culture, sexual violence, affirmative consent, paid family & medical leave, affordable childcare, family-friendly workplace policies, feminism, sexism, reproductive choice, women’s leadership, public policy.

Follow her @Jilchrest.