Janice Palmer

Senior Vice President, Government Affairs and Public Policy

Helios Education Foundation

Ms. Palmer is responsible for leading Arizona and Florida policy and investment opportunities that leverage and/or positively impact the Foundation’s current investments and ensure current policy and advocacy activities inform and direct the Foundation’s future work. 

Prior to joining Helios, Ms. Palmer was the Director of Governmental Relations & Public Affairs for the Arizona School Boards Association and was with the Association for over 15 years. She has previously served as Communications Director for the Proposition 200: Healthy Children Healthy Families campaign and was an Arizona Senate Policy Advisor, working in the areas of tax and fiscal policy, commerce and economic development, bilingual education, civil rights issues, and redistricting. 

She was reappointed by Governor Ducey to a second two-year term as a Commissioner for the Education Commission of the States and continues that work under the appointment by Governor Hobbs. 

Ms. Palmer serves on numerous boards and committees, including: Arizona Community Foundation Public Policy Committee; East Valley Partnership Management Council, Board of Directors, and Government & Advocacy Committee; Aliento Board of Directors; ReadOn Arizona Public Policy Committee Chair; Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce Workforce Readiness Committee and Public Affairs Committee; Arizona Chamber of Commerce Education and Workforce Development Committee; and Arizona Early Childhood Alliance Legislative Strategy Committee. 

She has previously provided leadership by serving as Governor Ducey’s Complete Count Committee for Census 2020 as the Philanthropic Partnerships Liaison, Superintendent Hoffman’s Technology Task Force, Arizona Grantmakers Forum Board of Directors and Public Policy Committee, and State Board of Education Technical Advisory Committee. 

Ms. Palmer graduated Arizona State University magna cum laude with degrees in English and Political Science.