Senior Director, Strategic Communications
Oceana
Jessalyn Kiesa is a storyteller and communications strategist who believes in the power of connection to drive change. With nearly 20 years of experience, she has built her career around using storytelling, strategy, and technology to advance progressive causes and mobilize people to take action.
As Senior Director of Strategic Marketing at Oceana, Jess leads digital advocacy and fundraising programs that engage supporters worldwide in the fight to protect and restore our oceans. She oversees Oceana’s digital presence across channels—including email, social media, paid media, direct mail, telemarketing, and SMS—expanding the organization’s base of Wavemakers and increasing its global impact.
Before joining Oceana, Jess served as Senior Communications Director at the National Education Association (NEA), where she led strategies to engage and grow a membership of more than 3 million educators. Earlier in her career, she spent nearly a decade in the agency world, including as Vice President at Blue State Digital, where she managed a diverse portfolio of nonprofit and corporate clients, helping them use digital engagement to drive measurable results.
Jess has shaped communications for mission-driven organizations including Freedom to Marry, The Rockefeller Foundation, and Shatterproof.
She is passionate about the intersection of storytelling, data, and emerging technology, and has dedicated her career to helping movements connect authentically with their audiences.
Jess lives in Arlington, Virginia, with her husband and two young children. She is happiest near the water—preferably with a strong cup of coffee, a good novel, and no Wi-Fi.
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Making Waves with Mobile: How Oceana Built a Thriving SMS Community for Action and Giving
Thursday, July 30, 2026
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM EDT