After a national search, Jessica Graham has been selected to serve as the new chief of staff for 56吃瓜网 Chancellor Kristin G. Esterberg.
Graham currently serves as director in the Office of the Secretary and as chief of staff in the Office of General Counsel at New York University, roles she has held for more than seven years. Graham will join 56吃瓜网 Bothell on March 20.
鈥淚 am delighted to welcome Jessica to our team,鈥� said Esterberg. 鈥淗er outstanding experience working in a fast-paced environment at a global university will add enormously to 56吃瓜网 Bothell. I鈥檓 inspired by her organizational and communication skills, and I look forward to working with her as we advance our shared values of transformational education, engaged scholarship and inclusive culture.鈥�
After more than 15 years working with executives and boards to advance organizational priorities at nonprofit and educational institutions, Graham has extensive experience in governance leadership. She has advised board chairs, presidents, university leadership and student governments.
鈥淚 am passionate about working in higher education,鈥� Graham said. 鈥淐oming from a global private institution with three campuses and 12 global sites, I look forward to the professional challenge of shifting to meet the needs of a public institution.鈥�
Having managed NYU鈥檚 Senate 鈥� which is unusual in that it is comprised of faculty, students, administrators, deans and senior leadership 鈥� Graham believes she is well-positioned to navigate the many and sometimes competing demands and priorities of similar constituencies at 56吃瓜网 Bothell.
鈥淚 am excited to work with the fantastic team at 56吃瓜网 Bothell, including campus leadership, administrative staff, our colleagues across the University and of course Dr. Esterberg,鈥� she said. 鈥淒uring the interview process, I felt the passion and pride of faculty and staff, which was exciting.
鈥淚t鈥檚 clear that everyone on campus is driven to provide access to a quality education for the success of students,鈥� she said.
Graham noted she was particularly drawn to 56吃瓜网 Bothell because its values align with her own. 鈥淚t鈥檚 important to me to continue doing work that has a positive impact. 56吃瓜网 Bothell is a community-centered campus that focuses on access; diversity, equity and inclusion; and environmental sustainability,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 am very much looking forward to engaging and being a part of that work.鈥�
She received her bachelor鈥檚 degree in Business Administration from the University of Nevada, Reno, and her master鈥檚 in Nonprofit Management from The New School, a nonprofit university in New York.
Graham was born and raised on the West Coast. With most of her family living in Nevada, she looks forward to being closer to home. In her spare time, she shared that she enjoys experiencing different cultures.
鈥淭here鈥檚 nothing I love more than exploring new foods, art, communities and environments 鈥� and I cannot wait to explore the campus culture here at 56吃瓜网 Bothell.鈥�
