Gretchen Hunt

Gretchen Hunt has been an advocate for women, survivors of gender-based violence and immigrant communities for over two decades.  She has served in the Office of the Attorney General, the Kentucky Association of Sexual Assault Programs, the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, the Center for Women and Families and the Backside Learning Center.   Through her work in the non-profit and government sector, she has represented survivors of violence, championed legislative reforms, trained thousands of professionals at the local, state, regional and national level, created coalitions, managed state and federal grants and overseen project development and fundraising.   She has taught as an adjunct professor at the University of Louisville and Brandeis School of Law and continues to consult at the regional and national level on human trafficking.

Gretchen is a proud graduate of Emerge Kentucky (‘14) and was the Democratic candidate for the 48th legislative district in 2014.   Despite losing her election, she viewed it as a victory because it inspired her to mentor and support other women to run for office in Kentucky and beyond.

In recognition of her dedication to building a better world for women and girls, Gretchen was inducted into the Kentucky Civil Rights Hall of Fame in 2019.

Gretchen lives in Louisville, Kentucky with her husband and two children. She is most proud of inspiring her daughter, now 12, to run — and win — her election to student council.