Community Foundations Shifting Environments

Kesa Jessup, EdD serves as Director of Access to Postsecondary Education at The Winston-Salem Foundation, where she works at the intersection of philanthropy and higher education to expand educational opportunity for students across northwest North Carolina. Her work includes leading scholarship strategy, cultivating donor partnerships, and serving as staff liaison for Youth Grantmakers in Action, a youth philanthropy program that empowers high school students to make philanthropic investments and develop as civic leaders.

With more than 18 years of experience spanning community colleges, universities, and philanthropy, Kesa has dedicated her career to advancing student success, enrollment management, financial aid, scholarship strategy, and economic mobility. She is also a higher education policy advocate, having served as a Policy Fellow with the Institute for College Access & Success (TICAS), where she engaged with federal policymakers on issues related to college affordability and student success.

Kesa earned her Doctor of Education in Community College Leadership from North Carolina State University. Her research explores adaptive leadership among community foundation scholarship professionals and reflects her commitment to strengthening the connection between philanthropy, policy, and higher education. She is passionate about building partnerships that create equitable pathways to education and expand economic mobility for students and communities.