Jessica has received many accolades for her dedication and work in school meal programs, including:
- IFMA Gold Plate & Silver Plate Awards
- Ohio Department of Education Stellar Nutrition Award
- Ohio School Board Outstanding Food and Nutrition Director of the Year
- FAME Golden Director & Silver Rising Star Awards
- School Nutrition Association State Director of the Year & Regional Director of the Year
- USDA Silver Level & Bronze Level “Turnip the Beet” Summer Program Awards
- Children’s Hunger Alliance School Breakfast Program of the Year Award
- Cincinnatus Association Outstanding Administrator of the Year Award
- United Fresh Produce Excellence in Foodservice Award
- Food Service Director Magazine’s Director of the Month
- Center for Disease Control Communities Putting Prevention to Work Champion
Jessica is a trailblazer in the area of school nutrition with unique implementations at Cincinnati Public Schools, such as Farm to School garden bars, Plant Forward Fridays, culturally inspired spice & sauce stations, reimbursable meal vending machines, Life Time Foundation’s Clean Label Initiative, and the Good Food Purchasing Program.
Jessica holds a BA from Miami University and an MBA from the University of Cincinnati, where she was named Outstanding Graduate Student of the Year.
Jessica is an active member of the School Nutrition Association, having served as past president of SNA of Ohio and on the national level on the Executive Committee. She is also part of the CIA Healthy Kids Collaborative, chair of the IFMA K-12 Advisory Committee, K-12 Advisor for United Fresh Start Foundation, and Board member for UMC Food Ministries.
Jessica has been an invited speaker at several national conferences, including the School Nutrition Association, Council of Great City Schools, the National Environmental Health Association, the American Dietetic Association, and the Association of State & Territorial Public Health Nutrition Directors.
