Jessica Velez

Degree: 2015, MPA

Job Title: Conflict & Collaboration Specialist, Junior Partner, Mapping Change

Jessica Velez earned her Master of Public Administration ('15) from the University of Delaware’s Biden School of Public Policy and Administration. During her time at the Biden School, Jessica served as a Public Administration Fellow for the Conflict Resolution Program (CRP) within the Institute for Public Administration (IPA) and a Legislative Fellow for the House Majority Caucus. Both experiences were highly formative for her career. After graduating, she continued working with CRP as the Coordinator for Delaware's statewide special education dispute resolution program, helping families and educators statewide reach meaningful and amicable agreements to support student needs.

In 2021, Jessica joined Mapping Change, where she matured her conflict resolution and facilitation skills in Hawai'i, learning to navigate a historically complex and cross-cultural environment. Through her work with Mapping Change, Jessica has had the incredible opportunity to assist nonprofits, public agencies, and organizations dedicated to the public good in navigating community-informed strategic planning processes, difficult yet critical conversations, and complex collaborative problem-solving. Jessica is now a Junior Partner at Mapping Change, with headquarters in Pittsburgh, PA. She will complete her Ed.D. in Organization Leadership for Change at Chaminade University of Honolulu in the summer of 2026.

Jessica is committed to building a world where everyone can effectively communicate through complexity and solve problems collaboratively, creating lasting, positive change.