Jenna Wadsworth

About Jenna Wadsworth

History maker, public servant, feminist, mentor, visionary, foodie, farmer, writer, dog mom, and wearer of many hats. Bio: Wadsworth was the 2020 Democratic nominee for North Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture. In November 2010—at the age of 21—Jenna made history with her election to a four-year term on the Wake County Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors by becoming the youngest woman ever elected to public office in North Carolina. Re-elected in November 2014, she became Vice-Chair of the Board in February 2015. She\'s honored to represent nearly 1.2 million people. She was re-elected in the fall of 2018 to her third term and again in November 2022 to a fourth term. Jenna is the Co-Founder and former Co-Director of a progressive nonprofit called New Leaders Council–North Carolina. She served on the N.C. School of Science and Mathematics Alumni Association’s Board of Directors, is an active member of both the Young Elected Officials Network and Local Progress, and she speaks to international delegations for the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitors Leadership Program and US AID. She was appointed to the North Carolina Advisory Committee of the US Global Leadership Coalition. She\'s the former Chair of a Community Advisory Board for NC State University which interfaced with the Women\'s and Gender Studies Program and the Women\'s Center. It’s not unusual to see her on a tractor tending her family farm. Professionally, she\'s been a small business owner of a company specializing in campaign fundraising, event planning, and strategic communications. She also worked to advance sustainability policy and organize programming aimed at addressing climate change—including through agricultural practices which prioritize conservation and regenerative techniques, in addition to educating lawmakers about equity and environmental opportunities possible through reforms in hemp laws and cannabis legalization. Jenna has now happily returned to work in the editing and publishing space. Her current focus is developing content for pet parents. She is a helicopter mom to two rescue dogs and is deeply passionate about animal welfare.

Experience

1. Co-founder, New Leaders Council - North Carolina

   New Leaders Council

   Jul 2013 — Present · Raleigh-Durham, NC, US

   New Leaders Council in North Carolina is a 501(c)(3) that endeavors to build a progressive infrastructure to make NC better, the people stronger, and the future brighter. You can follow us on Twitter at @NLC_NCNLC is about people, it\'s about progress, and it\'s about results. This organization really has the potential to change things in North Carolina at a time when we need positive, progressive, real, lasting change more than ever before. Along with Co-Founders Michael Hayden and Akilah Ensley, I was incredibly excited about bringing this opportunity to our state; each of us really believes in the power of NLC to make a difference here at home. NLC-NC will fight tirelessly to be successful in its endeavor to change the outlook for progressives and for all those who call the Old North State home.Served as Co-Director from July 2013- June 2014: As Co-Director, I would help with the selection and organization of Institute training weekends-for program Fellows selected using rigorous criteria-which occurred one weekend a month, January through May, with a Fellows Fundraiser and graduation ceremony in June. I recruited Advisory Board members, oversaw fundraising and engagement campaigns, executed event management plans, and was responsible for managing social media accounts.Served as a Senior Adviser to the multiple Co-Directors for the 20••••15 program year.

Education

• North Carolina State University

  Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, Women's & Gender Studies, English

  2007 — 2011

• North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics

  HS

  2005 — 2007