Jessica has a passion for the urban forest and her research has focused on developing and enhancing current urban forestry practices in order to better manage the urban interface. She has worked at the intersection of science communication and creation of long-lasting urban forestry policy. She has a PhD from Rutgers University and is a certified Project Management Professional. She previously worked at Casey Trees as the Director of Science and Policy overseeing: citizen science, mapping, policy, partnerships and land conservation. She currently serves as the Chair of the conference program committee at ISA as well as the Chair of the Nominations and Elections Committee at ISA. She is the Executive Director of The Sacramento Tree Foundation - focusing on the organization's mission of urban forestry from seed to slab creating a circular green economy in the Sacramento region.