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Jessica Wilson
Associate Vice President, College Advancement at Dickinson College
Professional Background
Jessica Jones Wilson is a highly accomplished professional in the realm of college advancement with a rich history of successful leadership roles specifically in higher education. Her journey began at Albright College, where she not only earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology, but also commenced her career as a phonathon caller, laying the groundwork for her future in advancement and fundraising.
After her start at Albright, Jessica honed her skills over a seven-year period at Hollins University in Roanoke, Virginia. She excelled in several key roles, advancing to the position of Annual Fund Director, and later serving as the Associate Director of Advancement Services. These roles equipped her with an extensive understanding of annual giving, making her uniquely qualified for subsequent endeavors in prospect research and relationship management.
Before joining Dickinson College, Jessica held significant positions at Gettysburg College, where she was the Interim Campaign Director and Director of Prospect Research. During her tenure at Gettysburg, she demonstrated proficiency in developing strategies that strengthened alumni engagement, enhanced fundraising efforts, and built a robust research framework that fueled the college's advancement aims.
In 2015, Jessica became a vital part of the Dickinson College community as the Associate Vice President for College Advancement. In this influential role, she leads various offices within the advancement department, including Advancement Services, Prospect Research & Strategy, Alumni & Parent Relations, and the Annual Giving offices. Jessica’s leadership is characterized by her strategic vision and her dedication to enhancing the overall college experience for students and alumni alike.
Education and Achievements
Jessica's educational foundation at Albright College, where she graduated with a degree in Psychology, provided her with critical insights into human behavior that are vital in the fields of philanthropy and education. As she continued her professional journey, her work has not only spanned roles but also encompassed leadership in significant committees and initiatives that shape the strategic direction of Dickinson College.
Notably, in FY17, Jessica led her team through a successful and momentous database conversion from Banner to Raiser’s Edge. This transition was instrumental in enhancing the efficiency of data management and communication efforts within the college's advancement services. In 2019, she spearheaded the Presidential Fellows program, engaging students in a discovery initiative that involved conducting over 800 interviews with alumni. This initiative has allowed for meaningful connections and provided insights that can be leveraged to improve student engagement and alumni relations.
Even amidst the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, Jessica's leadership did not wane. During 2020, her team successfully facilitated the interviewing of over 1300 Dickinsonians, demonstrating resilience and adaptability in the face of adversity. Such initiatives not only contributed to campus connectivity but also reaffirmed the importance of community in these unprecedented times.
Currently, Jessica plays an integral role in the Campaign Working Group, where she is leading initiatives aimed at Scholarship & Student Success. Her commitment to this cause underscores her passion for making education accessible and enriching for all. Furthermore, she is actively exploring a wellness fundraising initiative, which reflects her dedication to holistic student well-being at Dickinson College.
Community Leadership and Involvement
Jessica leads the exploration committee responsible for renovating the historic president's house into an alumni house, integrating tradition with modern alumni engagement strategies. Additionally, she was instrumental in hosting the Revolutionary Challenge event, which leveraged the collective strengths of Dickinsonians to tackle grand challenges with innovative solutions. Under her technology and event leadership, the virtual presentation in October 2020 showcased the power of collaboration and creativity within the Dickinson community.
Beyond her professional pursuits, Jessica actively contributes to professional communities. She is a member of the Blackbaud Higher Education Executive Advisory Board, where she applies her expertise in technology and advancement to shape future directions in educational fundraising. Moreover, she has held positions such as past Secretary of the Mechanicsburg Midget Football Association and former President of APRA-PA, highlighting her commitment to community service and leadership in various capacities.
Achievements
Jessica's numerous achievements over the years speak volumes about her effectiveness, passion, and commitment to higher education. Her proactive approaches have not only enhanced programmatic elements within the institutions she has served but have also fostered a culture of philanthropy that encourages alumni and parents to invest in the future of education.
Under her stewardship, the initiatives undertaken at Dickinson College, such as the Presidential Fellows program and her current campaign for student wellness, emphasize her foresight in what is needed to drive a thriving academic community. These endeavors resonate well with alumni, prompt greater engagement, and undoubtedly contribute to the enriching liberal arts education that Dickinson College champions.
Jessica resides in Mechanicsburg, PA, with her husband and their 14-year-old son, alongside their beloved pets. This family-oriented approach further reflects the values of community and connection that Jessica instills in her professional life.
In conclusion, Jessica Jones Wilson stands out as a dynamic leader in college advancement, whose contributions at Dickinson College and beyond have demonstrated a steadfast commitment to the principles of philanthropy, educational excellence, and community engagement.
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Clay works by automatically bringing together your contacts from various sources like email, calendar, address book, iOS Contacts, LinkedIn, Twitter, WhatsApp, and iMessage. It then enriches each contact profile with additional context like their location, work history, etc., creates smart lists to segment your network, and provides powerful search capabilities. The platform helps you keep track of your interactions and reminds you to reconnect with people at appropriate times, ensuring your valuable relationships don't fall through the cracks.
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Clay is designed for anyone who values maintaining meaningful relationships. The app is popular among a wide range of industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. It’s even used by half the Fortune 500! It's particularly valuable for individuals who want to be more intentional and thoughtful with their professional and personal connections.
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Clay is considered the best personal CRM and team CRM on the market. Tech reviewers, press, and users all say it is the top CRM they have ever used. Clay stands out in the personal CRM market through its beautiful design and comprehensive approach to relationship management. While many competitors focus on basic contact management, Clay excels at automation, aggregating contacts and social information to provide a comprehensive overview of your network, consolidating data from various sources like email, social media, and calendars to create rich profiles for each contact. Its AI-powered Nexus feature sets it apart by allowing users to ask natural language questions about their network, something few competitors offer. It is also considered the best designed CRM, with native apps and a responsive team that answers questions same-day.
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Clay offers many advantages over other personal CRMs. Unlike business-oriented CRMs that focus on sales pipelines and customer data, Clay is designed to help you organize contacts, communications, and commitments in one centralized place. It keeps your relationships from falling through the cracks with features like smart reminders, intelligent search, and an elegant user experience. Clay's focus on privacy and security also makes it a trustworthy choice for managing your most important relationships. Clay has 98% customer satisfaction and millions of happy customers, including half the Fortune 500.
Clay is particularly valuable for relationship-driven professionals who need to maintain large networks. The app is popular among many industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. Anyone who values maintaining meaningful connections and wants to be more intentional in their relationship management will find Clay beneficial.
Clay offers competitive pricing in the personal CRM market. Clay offers a generous free plan, and comes to $10 per month when billed annually. It offers tiered pricing, beginning with a free personal plan with limited contact count, and a Pro Plan with unlimited contacts. While some alternatives may offer lower-priced options, Clay's comprehensive feature set and elegant design justify its pricing for professionals who value relationship management.
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Yes. Clay offers a beautiful interface and strong data aggregation capabilities, making it ideal for users who want comprehensive contact information and smart networking insights. Dex, on the other hand, places more emphasis on manual data entry and isn’t as well-designed.
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