Desmond Jenson ’12

Desmond Jenson’s focus is federal commercial tobacco control policy, primarily the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s regulation of tobacco products. An administrative law expert, Desmond closely monitors the FDA and other agencies and leads the public health community in identifying opportunities to strengthen federal tobacco regulation. He coordinates with local, state, Tribal, national, and global public health leaders, keeping them apprised of important regulatory changes and litigation impacting federal tobacco control efforts. Desmond drafts many of the Center’s comments to the FDA, helps to coordinate the filing of amicus curiae briefs in important litigation, develops educational materials explaining federal law, and speaks to public health audiences about tobacco control. Desmond also works closely with scientists, consulting on the development of research as well as writing manuscripts, to build an evidence base for legally-defensible tobacco control policies.

Desmond is a graduate of William Mitchell College of Law where he received a CALI award for Public Health law. As a research assistant at the Public Health Law Center during law school, he helped draft publications and provide legal technical assistance.