Jessica Solis

Jessica serves as the Chief Program Officer for the Be A Leader Foundation and has been with the organization for 10 years. During her tenure, she has held several roles, including High School Coordinator, Senior Boot Camp Coordinator, Senior Coordinator and Manager for College Success Programs, and Director of Programs. In her current role, Jessica leads the Access, Success, Advising, and Continuous Improvement teams.

Born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, she is a first-generation college student. She developed her passion for education from her parents even though they never got the opportunity to get an adequate education due to the hardships they faced while living in Mexico, as well as what she witnessed growing up in a working-class neighborhood. Not many of her peers continued into higher education, limiting their options. She understood that with education, comes success and has since made it her personal mission to advocate for higher education to students, especially those growing up in environments where opportunities seem minimal.

Growing up in Phoenix, she had her elementary education at Capitol Elementary School, continued into junior high at Phoenix Preparatory Academy, then Central High School. After graduating from Central, she attended Arizona State University where she earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology in 2007.

She started her career working in the nonprofit sector, with the organization Creciendo Unidos where she worked with Spanish-speaking families. While at Creciendo Unidos, she got the opportunity to co-create and now co-coordinate a Youth Leadership Program called Sin Limites/Without Limits. Prior to joining the Be A Leader Foundation Mrs. Solis worked as a Program Coordinator at Arizona State University within the Access ASU for SPARKS (Students Providing Awareness Resources and Knowledge to Start College).