Jenkins entered the post of State Treasurer in 2003 after serving as a State Senator. Prior to serving in the Senate, Jenkins served for two years in the Kansas House of Representatives. Jenkins has been a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) for over 20 years.

As State Treasurer, Jenkins is responsible for the functions of several key departments including Bonds Services, Cash Management, Unclaimed Property, Agricultural Production Loan Deposit Program and the Learning Quest College Savings Program which has more than 100,000 accounts with total assets over $1.7 billion. The Treasurer's office has 40 employees and an annual operating budget of $3.5 million.

As State Treasurer, Jenkins serves as a member of the Kansas Public Employee's Retirement System (KPERS) and the Pooled Money Investment Board (PMIB). In addition, Jenkins is a member of the College Savings Plan Network and the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA). She is also a member of the National Association of State Treasurers (NAST) where she serves as Senior Vice President of the organization.

Privately, Jenkins serves as a board member of the Kansas Society of CPAs, the Dwight D. Eisenhower Excellence in Public Service Honorary Board of Governors, the Aspen Institute's Rodel Fellowship in Public Leadership Program, and the American Council of Young Political Leaders. She is a graduate of Leadership Kansas and serves on the Kansas State University Accounting Department Advisory Council, the CASA Advisory Board, the Kansas Children's Service League Board of Directors, the YMCA of Topeka Metro Board, the Auburn-Washburn Public Schools Foundation Board, and the Topeka Youth for Christ Endowment Advisory Committee.

Jenkins, a sixth-generation Kansan, was raised on a dairy farm in Holton. She is a graduate of Kansas State University and Weber State College. Jenkins has a degree in Accounting with a minor in Economics. She has been married to her husband, Scott, for 24 years and they have two children, Hayley and Hayden.