Grace Hong Duffin

Grace Hong Duffin is an accomplished leader with extensive experience in public service and nonprofit management. As a Board Member of the National Council for Mental Wellbeing since July 2022 and the President & Chief Executive Officer of Kenneth Young Center since March 2016, Grace has been instrumental in enhancing community mental health services. Prior roles include Senior Policy Advisor and Acting Executive Director for the Illinois Department of Human Services, overseeing significant budgets and operations for one of the largest state agencies. Grace’s legal and policy expertise is further reflected in positions such as Chief Administrative Law Judge at the Illinois Department of Public Health and Assistant State’s Attorney in Cook County. Grace holds a Master in Public Administration from Harvard Kennedy School, a Juris Doctorate from Chicago-Kent College of Law, and a Bachelor of Science from Northwestern University.