AmySue Mertens has held public relations, communications, events planning, and development positions with local direct service and statewide public policy non-profit organizations. She has worked with issues including adult and family literacy, drug-use and ex-offender re-entry, and homelessness and affordable housing. With Extension, she is focused on branding strategies for Cook County, media and organizational outreach, and marketing support to the more than 100 Cook County staff members.

Mertens represents Extension on the Advisory Committee for the Community Building Initiative, a public/private partnership with the City of Chicago. She is also on the planning committee for Chicago's Green Festival and Science in the City.

Mertens is on the board of the West Loop Community Organization, is Vice Chair of the Whitney Young H. S. Local School Council, and is a member of the Publicity Club of Chicago, City Club of Chicago, and the League of Women Voters of Chicago and Illinois.

She recently ran for the Illinois State Senate-5th District. Mertens earned both her bachelor's and master's degree in advertising from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.