Bio

Jessica O’Connell served as the Executive Director at EMILY’s List, where she manages the senior leadership team in pursuit of strategic, programmatic, financial and operational goals to help elect pro-choice, Democratic women throughout the country.

O’Connell joined EMILY's List from the Center for American Progress, where was a senior vice president and the chief of staff. O'Connell helped lead day-to-day operations for the influential, progressive think tank. She came to CAP from the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition. As the national field director, she organized influential statewide networks of more than 400 nongovernmental organizations, academic institutions, Fortune 500 companies, and think tanks on international affairs, budget issues, and global engagement.

From 2007-2008, O’Connell served on the senior team for Hillary Clinton for President, as the national director of operations. She led staffing and infrastructure to help the campaign run nationwide and managed daily operations at the headquarters. For over a decade, O’Connell has worked to elect U.S. federal and statewide political candidates throughout the country — directly on the campaign trail and off. She’s helped raise millions of dollars for progressive candidates and issues, including work in development positions with EMILY’s List and the Children’s Defense Fund. As the chief operating officer for digital services company, EchoDitto, O’Connell managed operations and the client services team that led strategic and campaign planning for national, progressive clients.

In 2009, O’Connell founded Youth Trek, a non-profit organization in Washington, D.C., that works to promote the character development and self-discovery of underserved girls through travel experiences and access to women leaders throughout the country.

Jess has an M.B.A. from the University of Denver, Daniels College of Business and a B.A. from the University of Colorado, Boulder. She is originally from Arizona, adopted Colorado for a decade, and now lives with her partner in Washington, D.C.

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