Klein-Schmeink studied sociology at the University of Münster from 1977 to 1984 and graduated with a master's degree. While still a student, she began working as a volunteer for the Sozialpädagogisches Bildungswerk Münster (Sobi).
After completing her studies until 2002, Klein-Schmeink worked full-time in a leading position for the Sobi. From 1986 to 1988 she was involved in the establishment of the institution "cultur- und begegnungszentrum achtermannstraße" (c.u.b.a.). From 2002 until she moved to the German Bundestag in 2009, she worked as a legislative advisor to the Green Party's group in the State Parliament of North Rhine-Westphalia.
Political career
In parliament, Klein-Schmeink is a member of the Committee on Health. Since 2014 she has been serving as her parliamentary group's spokesperson on health policy.[2][3] In 2020, she succeeded Katja Dörner as one her parliamentary group's deputy chairs, under the leadership of co-chairs Katrin Göring-Eckardt and Anton Hofreiter.[4]
In addition to her committee assignments, Klein-Schmeink is part of the German-Austrian Parliamentary Friendship Group.[5]
In March 2024, Klein-Schmeink announced that she would not stand in the 2025 federal elections but instead resign from active politics by the end of the parliamentary term.[8]
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