Biography

Jennifer W. Pegher, MA, MBA, became executive director of the Association of American Cancer Institutes (AACI) in October 2018. She is the second executive director in AACI’s history.

Under Pegher’s leadership, AACI has increased its cancer center membership, welcomed new corporate and sustaining members, and formed new partnerships with like-minded organizations. Additional accomplishments include expanding AACI’s programs and initiatives; overseeing presidential initiatives focused on cancer-related public policy, strengthening the cancer center leadership pipeline, global oncology, and improving cancer health outcomes in rural and other underserved communities; and increased networking opportunities for members, including new listservs dedicated to special roles and topics, and meetings for new cancer center directors, catchment area data scientists, and emerging leaders.

Pegher joined AACI in 2012 as government relations manager. In 2015, she was named director of government relations, and in 2018, deputy director. Before joining AACI, Pegher served as executive director of the Western Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Hemophilia Foundation. Previously, she worked in Washington, DC, for former Congressman Philip S. English of Pennsylvania and at the National Association of Federally-Insured Credit Unions (formerly the National Association of Federal Credit Unions).

Pegher earned her Executive MBA in Healthcare at the University of Pittsburgh in December 2023. Previously, she received a master of arts degree in government at the Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor of arts degree in political science at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown.