Jennie Chinn

Executive Director

Kansas Historical Society

Jennie Chinn was appointed executive director of the Kansas Historical Society, the state agency, in 2004. Since 1991 she has been the division director for the Education and Outreach Division at the Society.

Chinn served as interim executive director of the Society in 2002. She also has been an adjunct instructor in the Department of English at Washburn University since 1986. Chinn joined the Society in 1982 as the Kansas State Folklorist. In her previous positions, she was project director/folklorist for the Folk Roots Project, University for Man, Manhattan; librarian, Wayland D. Hand Library, Folklore Center, University of California, Los Angeles; and a teacher at Beyer Middle School, San Ysidro, California.

She holds a bachelor's degree in humanities from the University of California, Berkeley; California Teaching Credentials: and a master's degree in folklore and mythology from the University of California, Los Angeles. Chinn lives with her family in Topeka.

Chinn works closely with Vicky Henley, the executive director of KSHS, Inc.