A state and nationally recognized education equity leader with two decades of experience courageously advocating for California students, Jessie Ryan serves as President of the Campaign for College Opportunity. In this role, she works to expand access to higher education, improve student success, and close racial and ethnic equity gaps. Over the course of her career, Jessie has helped shepherd some of California’s most significant higher education policy reforms aimed at strengthening student pathways—including efforts to transform transfer and end inequitable remediation practices—helping millions of students move more successfully into and through college. She is also a proud alumna of the Solis Policy Institute (formerly the Women’s Policy Institute).
Jessie grew up in California’s Central Valley and was raised by a struggling single mother who instilled in her both a love of learning and a deep commitment to social justice. Her mother’s strong sense of civic responsibility, empathy for others, and dream of earning a college degree inspired Jessie to become the first in her family to graduate from college. A product of California Community Colleges and the California State University system, Jessie knows firsthand the transformative power of higher education. She has devoted her professional life to ensuring that generations of Californians—regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, or zip code—have the opportunity to prepare for, access, and succeed in college.