President

Jane Ruby has been involved in the League of Women Voters (LWV) since moving to Chicago from New York City prior to the 2016 presidential election. She has served on the Board of Directors of the League of Women Voters of Chicago since 2018, including two years as Vice President of Operations, and was elected President in 2022. In that role, she has continued to elevate the League’s public profile and civic impact. In 2025, she was included in Crain’s list of “Notable Leaders in Philanthropy.”

Jane’s work with LWV Chicago spans numerous initiatives. She spearheaded League efforts to rename Congress Parkway in downtown Chicago to Ida B. Wells Drive, an achievement that coincided with the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage and the League’s centennial. In 2020, she followed up that success by serving as chair of LWV Chicago’s Centennial State of the City event, the League’s flagship event of the year.

During the 2023 Chicago municipal elections, Jane helped coordinate 22 aldermanic candidate forums, as well as two televised mayoral debates on major local television affiliates. She has written and published op-eds and letters to the editor in the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times, and she is regularly interviewed and quoted in the press.

In 2026, Jane worked alongside coalition partners to see the passage of two pieces of legislation: The Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. Young Voter Empowerment Law, which passed statewide, and The Reverend Jesse L. Jackson Sr. Protecting Democracy Ordinance, which passed citywide. Both legislative wins highlight Jane’s commitment to youth civic empowerment and ensuring our democracy is not only protected, but expanded to be more just and inclusive for all.

Jane has also emerged as an important voice within the League of Women Voters of the United States. She served for three years as a delegate to the United Nations’ annual Commission on the Status of Women before officially joining the LWVUS United Nations Observer Corps in early 2026. She is currently serving as Vice-Chair for Bylaws for the LWVUS 2026 National Convention.

Her leadership within the League extends across a variety of critical issue areas, including civic engagement, democracy reform, and human rights. She currently serves on prominent coalitions advocating for ranked-choice voting in Chicago elections and for money-in-politics reform. She was also a founding member of the League of Women Voters of Illinois’ Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, established in early 2024, and serves as LWV Illinois’ Women’s Rights specialist, with a particular focus on ERA and CEDAW advocacy. In addition, she is a member of Congresswoman Delia Ramirez’s (IL-03) Defending Democracy Working Group, representing the League of Women Voters.

Jane is also a frequent presenter, giving talks on CEDAW and women’s rights advocacy, as well as presentations on the history of the League of Women Voters, to local Leagues and other organizations.

Before moving to Chicago, Jane began her civic engagement in New York City, where she volunteered for community events and coordinated children’s programs. Although her educational pursuits initially led her to study fine art at New York University, she changed directions after one of her paintings, a portrait of Bob Dylan, was exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art. She then transitioned into digital design, communications, and business development.

After relocating from New York to Chicago, Jane found her niche in political and civic organizations. She quickly established herself as a full-time freelancer working in campaign strategy, design, and management for national, state, and local candidates and incumbent elected officials. Across these roles, she leveraged her passion for design to strengthen political advocacy and promote accessibility. She also served as treasurer of Good Government Illinois, the nonprofit founded and led by former Cook County Clerk David Orr.

In addition to her League leadership, Jane is affiliated with a number of civic and cultural organizations. Her memberships include Rainbow PUSH Coalition, UNA-USA Chicago, the New York Historical Society Women’s History Council, and RepresentWomen’s Women Experts in Democracy Directory. She is also a regular speaker at Rainbow PUSH events.

In her spare time, she enjoys collecting vintage political buttons.