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Gillian Gainsley

Chief of Staff

Gillian Gainsley is Chief of Staff to Director Phil Roos for the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. 

In this role, Gainsley works closely with Director Roos, helping the agency be more responsive by working closely with key stakeholders and driving strategic communications. She also works across divisions to support key policy initiatives and supports the agency’s efforts to become “the best place to work in state government.” 

Before joining EGLE, Gainsley served as head of strategy at Detroit PBS, where she was responsible for strategic partnerships and fundraising. She has also held leadership positions in local government, including working as Communications Director at the Ypsilanti District Library and serving on the boards of the Ypsilanti Community Schools and the Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority. She started her career in environmental advocacy. 

Gillian brings two decades of experience serving the public at nonprofit and government organizations with environmental and educational missions, with expertise in strategic communications, stakeholder engagement, and program development. She has a track record of launching innovative programs and helping organizations become better connected and more responsive to the communities they serve. 

Gillian holds a BA in Political Science from Kalamazoo College and an MS from the University of Michigan School of Environment and Sustainability. 

She lives in Ypsilanti with her husband and two kids. In her free time, Gillian enjoys gardening and exploring Michigan’s rivers in her kayak.