About Ember:
Public Servant, Lawyer, Nonprofit Leader,
Political Analyst

Through multiple careers, Ember Reichgott Junge’s life path has been about connecting people in creating new ideas and opportunities. She combines unique skills and experience as a former Minnesota state senator, business and nonprofit lawyer, media political analyst, and nonprofit executive, leader and co-founder.  

Called an “outstanding legislator” who leaves “an enviable record” by the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Ember stepped down in 2000 from the Minnesota Senate after 18 years of service.  Elected to the Senate at the age of 29, she was the youngest woman elected to that body until 2021. The former DFL Assistant Majority Leader and Judiciary Committee Chair championed education issues, prevention of family violence and sexual assault, greater human rights and consumer protections, and creation of the living will and durable health care power of attorney.  In all, she authored over 130 bills into law and led eight ethics proceedings as chair of the Senate Ethical Conduct Subcommittee. 

Ember is author of Minnesota’s 1991 first-in-nation charter school law, a winner of the 2000 Innovations in American Government Award from Harvard University’s JFK School of Government.  In honor of the 20th anniversary of chartering, she authored Zero Chance of Passage:  The Pioneering Charter School Story, a candid memoir of her challenging journey of pioneering the first charter school law from idea to national movement.  The book won multiple national book awards, including 2013 Grand Prize Winner of Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Awards.   

Beyond public service, Ember has served as a general counsel or consultant to businesses and nonprofits for over forty years.  Major business clients include 3M, HealthEast, and Radisson Hotels International.  In a unique specialty, Ember has assisted dozens of nonprofits in the start-up process, including IRS tax exempt filings. 

In 2007, Ember became Chief Advancement Officer of Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota, leading all external operations (development, marketing, advocacy, congregational relations) of the $100 million human services nonprofit.  In 2016 she co-founded her own nonprofit, Heart of Dance, (www.heartofdancemn.org), which brings Dancing Classrooms of Mad Hot Ballroom fame to Minnesota’s 5th and 8th graders.  As Co-President and Development Director, she led the nonprofit to a $400,000 budget in just three years. 

Ember has a lifetime of board service, including Citizens Independent Bank, Twin Cities United Way, past board chair of the Minneapolis American Red Cross, and current board vice chair of Maryland-based Charter Schools Development Corporation.  

Ember continues to push for innovative change as a writer, public speaker, and political commentator.  She has served as media political analyst for twenty years, primarily for KSTP’s At Issue with Tom Hauser, and Twin Cities Public Television’s Almanac. She is a former radio host. 

Ember received her BA from St. Olaf College (Northfield, MN), JD from Duke University Law School (Durham, NC), and MBA from University of St. Thomas (St. Paul, MN).  She is an avid ballroom dancer.  She most enjoys spending time with her husband Michael Junge, who has served over 30 years as McLeod County Attorney.