Jessica’s family’s connection to the Bay Area spans four generations, beginning with her grandfather who – despite never having attended high school – emphasized education as the pathway to opportunity.  Seizing her grandfather’s ethos, Jessica commuted from Morgan Hill to the Peninsula by train to attend high school at Sacred Heart Preparatory. 

After graduating from college at Brandeis University, she returned home to manage a shelter for abused women and their children and establish cross-sector collaborations to combat intimate partner violence. Jessica graduated from U.C. Berkeley with joint Master’s degrees in Public Health and Public Policy. 

Jessica has since occupied roles in local government, community nonprofits, and philanthropy.  She currently serves as the Executive Director of the Westly Foundation, focusing philanthropic investment in child health, education, and leadership development in underserved communities. Jessica also expresses her passion for affordable housing and first-generation students through her service on the boards of Mid-Peninsula Housing, Braven Bay Area, and KIPP of Northern California.