Jesse O'Connell currently serves as the Chief Advancement Officer at the American Council on Education, a role assumed in June 2023. Previously, Jesse held the position of Senior Vice President for Education at the Center for American Progress from January 2022 to June 2023. Jesse's extensive experience includes various roles at Lumina Foundation, including Strategy Director, Deputy Director, and Strategy Officer between May 2015 and January 2022. Prior to Lumina, Jesse was the Assistant Director of Federal Relations and Policy Analyst at the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) from January 2013 to May 2015. Jesse's career began at Georgetown University, where from February 2007 to January 2013, as the Associate Director of the Office of Student Financial Services, responsibilities included managing athletic scholarship funds and engaging with prospective athletes. Jesse holds a Master's degree in Liberal Studies/Social and Public Policy and a Bachelor's degree in Sociology, both from Georgetown University.