As the first woman elected mayor in Highland Park, Illinois, Nancy Rotering reformed city government and built a culture of transparency, collaboration, and ethics. In 2013, after the Sandy Hook tragedy, Nancy led the effort to ban military-style assault weapons and large capacity magazines in Highland Park. The NRA challenged the law in federal court and appealed all the way to the US Supreme Court, where Nancy and the people of Highland Park prevailed.
An attorney for over 30 years, Nancy Rotering is a graduate of the
University of Chicago Law School, has an MBA from Northwestern University and a BA from Stanford University in economics. She practiced law with McDermott Will & Emery in Chicago focusing on health care fraud and abuse before being elected Mayor of Highland Park three times. She teaches at Northwestern University in addition to serving as mayor.
In 2015, Nancy founded the North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic, providing free legal services and equal access to justice for northeastern Illinois residents navigating housing, immigration, and domestic violence matters. Nancy was honored as the 2013 Rotary Humanitarian of the Year. In 2014, Today’s Chicago Woman named Nancy to their “100 Women of Inspiration,” and Forbes included her in their “Forty Over 40” list. She was recently recognized as the 2022 Outstanding Instructor by Northwestern’s School of Education and Social Policy.
Nancy is an Executive Committee member of the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus, is a member of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, and is the immediate Past President of the Northwest Municipal Conference.
Nancy and her husband Rob have four sons and live in Highland Park, Illinois.
