Jesa Townsend

About Jesa Townsend

I am a community-driven servant leader who is fascinated with operational strategy, communications, and the arts as a vehicle to address social issues. I am a six time award winning researcher who loves to find funding, execute programs, and build out donor relations for incredible causes. Active mentor- pay it forward-Landed six and seven figure grants (including federal)| Three within first 90 days of employment | Secured 115K worth of silent auction items from 36 vendors in 45 days for Gala -Overseen seven+ figure operations contracts | 28 direct reports | 131 indirect reports -Nevada State University, A&C Board, 9+ years | Active community volunteer -Public artist with 32 partnerships to date and city art commissions through 2028 -Educator who has taught all grade levels 3rd through undergrad/professor | Two K-12 school systems | One vocational -L.A. Works Civic Leadership & Impact Awards Nominee, 2023 -Epilepsy Foundation, Advocate & National Certification, 2023 -LA Business Journal Nominee; nonprofit & philanthropy, 2023 -National Center to Reframe Aging | The Gerontological Society of America, Selected Government Facilitator: 2023 -University of Peace (UN) scholarship 2023 -Johns Hopkins University MLA Fellowship(s): 20••••20

Experience

1. Arts & Culture Advisory, Founding Board Member

   Nevada State University

   Dec 2013 — Present · Henderson, NV, US

   Link: https://nsc.edu/about/donate-to-nsc/ “We believe that a full educational experience includes exposure to the arts in all its forms. It was our pleasure to contribute to the Nevada State Art Collection which allows our students to expand their thinking and explore new dimensions in their lives.” Glenn and Ande Christenson, Nevada State College Founders “The art collections and public works we fund and implement are some of life’s most exponentially important societal and historical narratives. Art communicates past life to the present and present life to future generations –our values, hopes, trials and tribulations. That’s the power of public art and I believe the integral value we, the Nevada State College Arts & Culture Advisory Council, place on our role in communicating the importance of the arts.” Jesa Townsend, Nevada State College Arts & Culture Advisory Council

Education

• The University of Edinburgh

  Graduate Studies: International Business Management

  2009 — 2010

• Internship Raleigh Movie Studios Hollywood

  ABC--Grey's Anatomy

  2008

• Pepperdine University

  Master's degree

• University of Nevada-Las Vegas

  Doctor of Philosophy - PhD

• Lorenzo de' Medici University

  Certified in Art Restoration

  2008 — 2009

• Johns Hopkins University Advanced Academic Programs

  Master's degree

  2018 — 2020