About me
Jaclyn “Jackie” Kiger, JD, MSW is the Executive Director of Pisgah Legal Services (PLS). Pisgah Legal Services is a nonprofit legal-aid law firm serving Western North Carolina since 1978. PLS provides civil legal advocacy to help low-income individuals and families meet their most basic needs for housing, safety, health care, and income.
Jackie joined PLS in 2010 as a public benefits and housing attorney and in 2013 helped to implement the organization’s Affordable Care Act Health Justice Enrollment Program. In 2014 she was promoted to Managing Attorney to oversee PLS' health justice, public benefits and immigration work. In 2019 Jackie was promoted to Chief Operations Office, overseeing the organization’s operations for legal case work and advocacy programs. After a rigorous nationwide search, Jackie was selected by the Board of Directors as Executive Director in 2024. She led the organization through Hurricane Helene and the aftermath of the storm, adapting services to be responsive to client and community needs.
Jackie obtained her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Duquesne University. She has a master’s degree in Social Work from UNC-Chapel Hill and received her Juris Doctorate from Atlanta's John Marshall Law School. With a background in both the law and social work, Jackie is a committed advocate for the basic rights and dignity of all people. In 2024, Jackie received the North Carolina Dogwood Award from NC Attorney General Josh Stein. She and her family live in the mountains of Western North Carolina, and she enjoys yoga, hiking and spending time with her family.
