A Cherokee County Appalachian native, Jessica is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and a Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist Associate (LCASA) with 17 years of experience in physical and mental healthcare. She is a graduate of Western Carolina University, George W. Truett Theological Seminary,  and Baylor University where she respectively earned a BS in Sociology, Master of Divinity, and a Master of Social Work.

Following graduation, Jessica spent five years living in Waco, TX where she worked with vulnerable populations while completing her graduate education. In 2013, she returned to Western North Carolina and joined the Appalachian Community Services team. In her current role Jessica's focus is with the communities of Cherokee, Clay, Graham, and Swain counties, and she enjoys work with individuals, families, groups, and community systems. 

Jessica is passionate about providing compassionate, person-centered, and robust services to those living in Western North Carolina and is proud to work for an agency that promotes these values. She has special interests in working with children in recovery from traumatic events, adults managing acute mental health disorders, and advocacy for marginalized populations.