Jessica FitzSimmons

I joined Mindset because of the team’s strong commitment to diversity in both people and ideas.

Prior to joining Mindset, Jessica worked at USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, where she managed humanitarian funding across Africa. She also led onboarding and transition support for domestic and overseas staff, developed standard operating procedures, and improved knowledge management systems. Her work strengthened continuity of operations during periods of bureau restructuring and complex crisis response, while also supporting program compliance oversight, budget and finance management, and interagency coordination.

Prior to USAID, Jessica supported US State Department-funded educational exchange programs at American Councils for International Education, where she led case management for international exchange students and served as a key liaison with international partners and federal stakeholders. Earlier in her career, she provided executive-level administrative support in consulting, labor relations, and diplomatic settings, including at the Embassy of Egypt in Washington, DC, where she served as an events coordinator and assistant to the Ambassador.

Jessica holds Bachelor of Science degrees in Political Science and Public Relations/Advertising, and a Master of Arts degree in Statecraft and National Security Affairs, specializing in Public Diplomacy. She brings a strong commitment to professionalism and continuous process improvement, with a deep belief that well-designed operations are essential to effective leadership and impactful work.

Jessica’s hidden talent: Dropping beats on her toddler’s one-octave keyboard.