Martha Hennessey

Martha S. Hennessey (born February2, 1954) is an American politician who has served in the New Hampshire Senate from the 5th district since 2016. She is chair of the Senate Judiciary, and has served on Transportation and Health and Human Services Committees. She previously served in the New Hampshire House of Representatives from the Grafton 12 district from 2014 to 2016.

Hennessey graduated from Dartmouth College (1976), with a degree in psychology and from the University of Pennsylvania, with an MBA (Wharton) and PhD in developmental psychology. She practiced as an educational psychologist in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, before joining the NH legislature. She is married to Stephen Severson, and they have three children (Kristina, Tucker, and Elizabeth) and 5 granddaughters.