Jennifer Backensto Henaghan

Jennifer Backensto Henaghan, AICP, currently serves as the Community Development Director for the Village of Glen Ellyn, Illinois, since August 2024. Previously, Jennifer was the Assistant Director of Community Development for the Village of Addison from January 2019 to August 2024, overseeing economic development and planning functions. Earlier experience includes roles as Deputy Research Director and Green Communities Center Manager at the American Planning Association, Assistant Community Development Director for the City of Wood Dale, and Senior Planner for the Village of Lombard. Jennifer’s career began with a Planning and Preservation internship at the City of Quincy, and other roles include Art Director at buzz Magazine and Legal Assistant at the Law Offices of Sean Holden Sleeper, Ltd. Jennifer holds a Master’s degree in Urban Planning and Policy from the University of Illinois Chicago and a Bachelor’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.