JENNIFER FLANAGAN

Jennifer Flanagan Long brings over three decades of distinguished public service and policy leadership in Massachusetts. Jennifer is the Senior Vice President for Liberty Square Group. Inc. and is a Senior Advisor at Vicente LLP. Widely respected across Beacon Hill and throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, she has earned recognition as a thoughtful and effective advocate across a broad spectrum of policy areas, with particular expertise in mental health and substance use disorder.

Ms. Flanagan’s career in elected office spanned more than 13 years in the Massachusetts General Court, where she served four terms as State Senator for the Worcester and Middlesex District and two terms as State Representative for the 4th Worcester District. During her legislative tenure, she held several influential positions, including Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, Chair of the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery, and Chair of the Senate Special Committee on Opioid Addiction. Her legislative accomplishments include co-authoring landmark bills addressing substance use disorder and authorization of casino development in Massachusetts.

In 2017, then-Governor Charlie Baker appointed Ms. Flanagan as the inaugural public health Commissioner of the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission. In this role, she oversaw the implementation of laws governing medical and adult-use cannabis, playing a pivotal role in shaping the regulatory framework for the Commonwealth’s emerging cannabis industry. She also led the development of the Commission’s public education initiative, More About Marijuana, aimed at increasing awareness and understanding of cannabis-related issues among Massachusetts residents.

Beyond her government service, Ms. Flanagan has contributed her expertise to several advisory and governance boards in the community. She currently serves on the Board of Trustees for Fitchburg State University, the Executive Committee and Board of Trustees for the RFK Community Alliance in Lancaster, the Board of Directors for the Gardner Athol Area Mental Health Association (GAAMHA), the Advisory Board of Trustees for the Seven Hills Foundation in Worcester, and the Advisory Board for the UMass Women into Leadership program at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Ms. Flanagan holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Massachusetts Boston and a Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling from Fitchburg State University. Her enduring commitment to public health, education, and community development continues to shape policy and inspire civic engagement across Massachusetts.

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