Jenny Ma

Director | Public Rights Project | Lecturer in Law | Columbia Law School

New York, New York, United States

About

Currently, director at legal non-profit that helps local government officials advance civil rights and democracy. Lecturer at top law school teaching sexuality and gender law and policy. Formerly, Biden-Harris Administration appointee; second-in-command and senior leadership member. Managed the execution of policies and enforcement of federal civil rights and privacy laws at the Office for Civil Rights at U.S. Health and Human Services, including regulatory authorities like the Affordable Care Act; the Rehabilitation Act; and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Formerly, recognized expert in reproductive rights litigation and policies. Experienced trial and appellate litigator in high impact, constitutional law, and civil rights cases. Expertise in all stages of litigation, including as lead trial counsel, drafting pleadings, discovery, dispositive and non-dispositive briefs at the district and appellate court levels, including at the U.S. Supreme Court, oral argument, and strategic and creative advocacy. Counsel in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, June Medical Services v. Russo, among many others. Frequent commentator on civil rights, healthcare, and reproductive rights issues in nearly all major news and media outlets.

Experience

  • Director of Civil Rights Hub at Public Rights Project
    May 2025 - Present · 1 yr 2 mos

    Senior leadership member, spearheading first-of-it’s-kind Civil Rights Hub and managing high-impact partnerships with, and legal services to, local governments to protect and advance civil rights and justice.

  • Lecturer in Law at Columbia Law School
    Aug 2016 - Present · 9 yrs 11 mos

    Taught and mentored law students at top law school through instruction of current legal and policy issues involving gender law, and advancing the development of subject matter expertise of same. (Aug 2016-June 2023; hiatus for government service from June 2023-Jan. 2025; Jan. 2025-to present)

  • Principal Deputy Director at U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
    Jun 2023 - Jan 2025 · 1 yr 8 mos

    Senior leadership member overseeing the implementation and enforcement of civil rights and privacy laws as they intersected with healthcare policy and strategic initiatives. Advanced a historic 7 rules, including under authorities such as the Affordable Care Act, the Rehabilitation Act, and HIPAA, and oversaw enforcement of same. Executed and advanced Administration’s healthcare priorities.

  • Senior Counsel at Center for Reproductive Rights
    Mar 2017 - Jun 2023 · 6 yrs 4 mos

    Experienced high impact litigator leading complex reproductive rights cases in state and federal courts, including in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. Represented clients in all phases of litigation, completed successful settlements, and advised on risk assessments and regulatory compliance.

  • Associate at Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP
    Oct 2014 - Aug 2016 · 1 yr 11 mos