MPA 2007
AP Title: “Public Policy Advocacy and Lobbying for the American Heart Association in Delaware”
chair: Maria Aristigueta; committee member: Ed Freel
e-mail: jkirch0303@aol.com
current position:
State Advocacy Director
Great Rivers Affiliate
American Heart Association and American Stroke Association
Delaware / Philadelphia, Pa.
introduction | education | experience | honors and awards | conferences | presentations
IntroductionJonathan Kirch is currently the State Advocacy Director for the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association for Delaware; his responsibilities also extend to the City of Philadelphia.
At the American Heart Association, he directly lobbies the Delaware General Assembly, the Governor and Administration, the Philadelphia City Council, and the Mayor and Administration. Jonathan establishes and manages the public policy agenda in Delaware and the City of Philadelphia; including media advocacy; and strategic planning. Jonathan also plays an instrumental role lobbying Delaware’s Congressional delegation. During his tenure, the Association has made significant progress in tobacco control policy through taxation increases, and stroke policy with the passage of Primary Stroke Center legislation. Jonathan was also instrumental in Philadelphia’s passage of the nation’s strongest law to date on chain restaurant menu labeling.
Jonathan enjoyed a brief tenure performing government relations work for Verizon Delaware, Inc. while they sought a cable television franchise agreement for their FiOS TV brand, and served as a Legislative Fellow with the Delaware General Assembly in the House of Representatives for both sessions of the 143rd General Assembly.EducationMPA, University of Delaware 2007, Organizational Leadership
BS, University of Delaware 2005, Leadership and Consumer Economics
ExperienceApril 2007–present
State Advocacy Director, Delaware and Philadelphia, American Heart Association
Newark, Del.
June–August 2006
Summer Intern, Verizon Delaware, Inc., Public Policy and External Affairs, Wilmington, Del.
September 2005–May 2007
Research Assistant, Institute for Public Administration, University of Delaware, Newark, Del.
January–June 2005 and January–June 2006
Legislative Fellow, University of Delaware & Delaware General Assembly, Dover, Del.
July–August 2005
Consultant, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Wilmington, Del.
July 2003–October 2004
Collections Analyst, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Newark, Del.
January–June 2003
Financial Management Services Counselor, MBNA America Bank, N.A., Newark, Del.
August 2000–January 2003
Customer Assistance Account Manager, MBNA America Bank, N.A., Newark, Del.
February–July 2000
Mentor, MBNA America Bank, N.A., Newark, Del.
February 1999–January 2000
New Account Specialist, MBNA America Bank, N.A., Newark, Del.
Honors and AwardsStudents of Promise Award, 2004 Panel of Outstanding Seniors Award, University of Delaware, 2005
Legislative Fellow Award, University of Delaware, 2005
Consumer Studies Student Award, University of Delaware, 2005
Conferences2008 Delaware Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (DAHPERD) Conference, Presenter
2007 National Conference on Tobacco or Health, Attendee
2007 Delaware Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (DAHPERD) Conference, Presenter
Presentations“Reporting at the Top – The Changing Face of Security Governance,” 9th Security Conference, Washington, D.C., November 21, 2008.
“Manageable Risk: An Oversight Perspective,” Executive Leadership Conference, Williamsburg, Va., October 27, 2008.
“Fighting Obesity: The American Heart Association & Alliance for a Healthier Generation
Implications for Schools & Physical Education,” Dover, Del., October 12, 2007.
