Jessica is thrilled to be joining GHF’s amazing team. As a former health communication strategist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), she spent 10 years leading efforts to address preventable health disparities among historically marginalized communities. She brings expertise in data-driven strategy development, policy implementation and advocacy, and crisis communication management, including leading teams through COVID-19, Zika, the Flint, MI water contamination crisis, and multiple hurricane responses. Having previously worked with GHF as a graduate research assistant during the 2022 legislative session and on the 2023 housing study, Realizing the Promise of Olmstead, Jessica is eager to leverage her skills to support GHF’s critical Medicaid expansion and related advocacy campaigns.

Jessica has a doctorate in public health (DrPH) from Georgia State University (GSU). Her doctoral research focused on addressing social determinants of health for people with disabilities, including accessible public transit, digital accessibility, and inclusive design. She received her Master of Public Health (MPH) degree in community health education from San Francisco State University and her Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Spanish from Clemson University. She holds credentials as a DHS Accessibility Trusted Tester, as well as a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES), and completed a fellowship with the Georgia Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) program at GSU.

Jessica is deeply committed to advancing health equity and creating a world where everyone has the opportunity to be as healthy as possible. She is excited to apply her leadership experience to an organization equally committed to fostering systemic change and centering the voices of multiply marginalized communities to advance health equity across Georgia. In her free time, you can find Jessica playing tennis, running, and dancing to Grateful Dead tunes with her toddler and hubs in Summerhill.