Tracy Jensen

Tracy’s professional career includes program policy positions with several local, state and federal agencies, including the Maryland legislature and California Assembly offices. In the late 1990’s Tracy worked on the Clinton Administration’s Universal Health Care initiative, and she ended her federal service in the Office of Vice President Al Gore. In 2001 Tracy was appointed as the City of Oakland’s first Senior Services Administrator; she continues to work for the Oakland Human Services Department, using her policy skills to develop programs to support vulnerable Alameda County seniors.

Not long after her return home to Alameda, Alameda teachers recruited Tracy as a candidate for the Board of Education. Among her accomplishments during 8 years on the School Board was opening Ruby Bridges Elementary School – the first new school in Alameda in 20 years, and developing one of the first curricula to educate K-8 students about LGBTQ+ families. In 2013 Tracy was appointed to the Alameda HealthCare District Board, and later elected twice to the position in 2014 and 2018. From 2013 to 2022 Tracy represented Alameda on the Board of Alameda Health System where she hired two CEOs, increased patient revenue by more than 25%, added acute rehabilitation and expanded mental health services, and established a strategic focus that puts the patient first.

Tracy is a proud 4th generation Alamedan, the great-granddaughter of Magnus Jensen who came to Alameda from Norway in 1908, and Minnie Andersen, who met up with Magnus not long after arriving on the Island from her childhood home in Sweden. With an Edison, Lincoln and Alameda High educational foundation, Tracy completed undergraduate studies at Cal State University East Bay and received master’s degrees in Public Health and Business Administration from Emory University.