Robert & Patricia Switzer Foundation

Fellowship Year: 1997

Academic Background: Yale School of Forestry - Master of Forest Science 1998- (Watershed Management)

Current Position: Coastal Planner , SF Bay Conservation & Development Commission

Jessica is a coastal planner working on climate change adaptation, water policy, and wetland restoration in San Francisco Bay. She graduated from Columbia College in 1991 with a bachelor's degree in Chinese language and culture. From 1992-96, Jessica helped create a non-profit energy efficiency center in Beijing and promoted energy efficiency technology and policy transfer between the U.S. and China. While pursuing her master's degree at Yale, Jessica received a Switzer Fellowship to study lake management in Yunnan Province, China. In 1999, Jessica received a Switzer Leadership Grant to work at Pesticide Action Network North America (PANNA) on an effort to link organic and sustainable agriculture and farmland conservation. While at PANNA, she also worked to promote community-based efforts to reduce reliance on pesticides in World Bank agricultural projects in China and Mexico. She went on to create an organic farmer-to-farmer training program for California Certified Organic Farmers. From 2005-2007, she coordinated a community-based collaborative process to develop a watershed plan for the Mount Diablo Creek Watershed in Contra Costa County, California. Jessica joined BCDC in 2007 to work on dredging, wetland restoration and Bay-Delta water policy. She joined BCDC's planning team in 2010.

Expertise: Coastal & Marine Issues, Natural Resource Management, Water Resources