Jesse James

Background

About Jesse James

I’m a strategic, equity-driven leader with 15+ years of experience turning research into real-world change. My work spans program evaluation, systems-level strategy, and executive advising—always grounded in compassion, collaboration, and data. At the Church of Jesus Christ, I’ve led high-impact projects that resulted in expanded access for underserved populations, greater equity across programs, and measurable outcomes in areas like addiction recovery, education, and poverty reduction. I’ve managed research teams, presented to executive audiences, and designed tools (dashboards, KPIs, logic models) that align daily work with long-term mission. My professional north star is helping communities thrive—by centering lived experience, using evidence responsibly, and building trust across sectors. Whether mentoring staff or facilitating cross-functional strategy, I aim to bridge people, policy, and data in a way that makes lasting impact. Areas of expertise include: strategic planning, systems evaluation, data storytelling, stakeholder engagement, and equity-centered program design.