2025 AOY Honoree, College of Social & Behavioral Sciences - Class of 1977
Born, raised and educated in Tucson, Jan Lesher started working for Pima County in 2010, quickly advancing to deputy county administrator. In October 2021, she became acting county administrator, and the Board of Supervisors hired her as county administrator in April 2022.
Prior to joining the county, Jan served Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano as chief of staff, overseeing the daily activities of the agency’s 230,000 employees. Immediately prior to her move with the secretary to Washington, D.C., Jan was Governor Napolitano’s chief of staff.
Jan served on the Advisory Board for the University of Arizona College of Social and Behavioral Sciences and was the first donor to create an endowment to help fund what is now the Innovation Circle. She also was actively involved in the campaign to fund the Women’s Plaza of Honor located on the west side of Centennial Hall and the National Institute for Civil Discourse, an institute established by the U of A after President Obama’s visit to campus following the tragic event of January 8, 2011, in Tucson.
