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Jessica Elias is the Government Affairs Associate at the Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP). In this role, she advances IHEP’s policy and advocacy goals, increasing racial equity and economic mobility through higher education. Before joining the IHEP team, Jessica was a Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI)  Public Policy Fellow in Congressman Darren Soto’s office. In this role, she drafted a variety of legislative documents, including policy briefs and proposals, and organized policy roundtables for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. She collaborated with key stakeholders on various issues, including education, agriculture, and labor.

Jessica began her career as a family advocate in a summer school program, where she worked closely with migrant students and their families, ensuring they were connected with vital school and community resources. Additionally, she was an outreach coordinator at Gonzaga University’s Center for Community Engagement, supporting first-generation and students from low-income backgrounds in exploring postsecondary opportunities.

Jessica holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies from Gonzaga University and is pursuing a master’s in public policy from Vermont Graduate & Law School. As a proud first-generation college graduate, she intimately understands the transformative power of education, and is committed to ensuring that all students, especially those who are underrepresented, have access to postsecondary opportunities. She understands the barriers faced by students and believes that education is not only about academic achievement but also a vital pathway to social equity and community empowerment.

In her role at IHEP, Jessica is inspired by the many opportunities to collaborate with passionate advocates working to enhance the postsecondary education pipeline. Outside of her professional endeavors, she finds joy in hiking the landscapes of the Pacific Northwest, diving into a good book, and volunteering as a mentor in her community.