Jillian Rose Bernas is running for State Representative in the Illinois 56th House District. She was born and raised in Schaumburg and seeks to improve the quality of life for families in her community through her professional and civic endeavors.
Three years ago, Jillian returned home after attending college, teaching Spanish in Texas, and working in Chile, South America. She quickly realized that people she had grown up with had left the state for better job opportunities. Friends and neighbors were fleeing Schaumburg and Illinois because of the bad policy choices made in Springfield.
Jillian decided to stay and has spent the past three years trying to improve those policy choices and serving individuals in need.
Jillian works as the International Relations Manager at a large medical association where she partners with doctors across the country to follow best practices and provide the highest quality of care to patients throughout the world. Jillian serves as a Trustee on the Schaumburg Township District Library Board and as an associate member of the Schaumburg Township Mental Health Committee, among other volunteer roles.
She was recently inducted as a member of her local Rotary International Club that serves the Schaumburg and Hoffman Estates communities through service. She also serves her community teaching ESL classes at Church of the Holy Spirit in Schaumburg where she is a lifelong parishioner.
Jillian developed a love for learning in District 54 and District 211 schools which prepared her for undergraduate studies at Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame, IN, and later graduate school in education at the University of Notre Dame.
Wanting to serve students better, Jillian studied a graduate degree in public policy at the University of Chile and the University of Chicago. She has been developing her understanding of various policy areas, having worked for the U.S. Embassy in Chile in the Fulbright and Economic and Political Offices and the Chilean Trade Office in Chicago.
In her free time, she can be found translating documents between English and Spanish, working on start-up small business ideas and ice skating at the Rolling Meadows or Hoffman Estates Ice Arenas.
