Jessica M. Hawthorne is Vice President of Programs at the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities, an organization that works with schools, business, and communities to achieve success through inclusion.  In her role, she designs and facilitates educational programs on diversity, equity, and inclusion for institutions across Virginia. Jessica particularly specializes in VCIC’s programs for K-12 schools and higher education. She also leads VCIC’s program evaluation efforts.

In the community, Jessica has served on the faculty of the Koinonia School for Race and Justice at Richmond Hill, and she was a member of both the Juvenile Justice Collaborative Youth Violence Prevention Workgroup and the Trauma-Informed Community Network.  Jessica was also a community facilitator for the Unpacking the Census program.

Prior to her time with VCIC, Jessica worked for her family’s local small business as their office and social media manager. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia in Religious Studies, concentrating in African Religions and Islam.  Jessica also earned a Master of Theological Studies from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University along with a Certificate in Religious Education.