Jill Barkley Roy

Jill Barkley Roy serves as Affiliate Director for Emerge America where she oversees and manages all of the national organization’s work with its state affiliates. After completing her undergraduate work at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Jill relocated from her native home of Michigan to Maine in 2004. She quickly became involved in local and statewide politics, with a focus on issues that impact the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community.

While gaining experience in the non-profit sector advocating for victims of domestic violence and their children, Barkley went on to pursue a Master’s of Public Administration from the University of Colorado at Denver. Barkley’s work experience in communications, development, public policy, training and advocacy led her to pursue a position at the Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence in Augusta, Maine, where she focused on public policy, education and awareness. While there, Barkley spearheaded an initiative to engage University of Maine athletes in raising awareness about dating violence.

Following her time at the Coalition, Barkley worked for the American Civil Liberties Union of Maine as a lobbyist after successfully organizing Republicans United for Marriage for the Yes on One campaign. The successful ballot initiative granted the freedom to marry to every Maine couple in 2012.

Active in her community, she is a former Chair of the Portland Democratic City Committee, and Co-Founder of Pride Portland!. She has been honored twice as Portland’s Best Activist by the Portland Phoenix, and honored with leadership awards from the League of Young Voters and Equality Maine.

Before joining the team at Emerge America, Barkley served as the Executive Director of Emerge Maine and is a graduate of the Class of 2009.