Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz was born in Glenview, Illinois. She earned a bachelor's in journalism from Indiana University in 1991, and her J.D. from Loyola University School of Law in 1996. Gong-Gershowitz’s career experience includes working as a litigation associate with Winston & Strawn Limited Liability Partnership, and as director of immigration law practice at the Highland Park-Highwood Legal Aid Clinic. She is a co-founder of the Illinois Unaccompanied Children's Task Force.