Jessica is a 5th year rabbinical student and recent graduate of the Zelikow School of Jewish Nonprofit Management at HUC-JIR in Los Angeles. A proud southerner and fourth generation Atlantan, Jessica gained her love of Judaism at URJ Camp Coleman where she spent 12 summers as a camper and staff member. Jessica graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelors of Social Work and Minor in Religion. After graduation, Jessica trekked across the country to Los Angeles to serve as the Director of Engagement for UCLA Hillel, where she worked diligently to scale and diversify existing immersive experiences, pluralistic learning environments, social justice initiatives, and interfaith dialogue.

During her time at HUC, Jessica has prioritized serving and learning from a diverse set of communities. Jessica loves leveraging her organizing and nonprofit management sensibilities to build deep relationships and think strategically about the accessibility of Jewish spaces. She values building relationships across differences and using her Judaism as a positive tool for change in the world. Currently, Jessica works to make Los Angeles a more just place as the Community Organizing Rabbinic Intern for Leo Baeck Temple. In her free time, Jessica hunts for vintage treasures at estate sales, eats at LA’s abundance of taco trucks, FaceTimes with her adorable nephew, and cares for her growing jungle of plants.