“The response from Jess’s keynote on diversity among the organization was phenomenal…many participants implemented the suggestions she put forth. Our own group instituted changes in our executive board structures due to her talk.”
Adelle Fontanet, University of Florida, Pride Student Union President

“We invited Jessica to campus to speak with student affairs staff, faculty and student groups. Through her presentations Jessica was able to engage all participants in lively, thoughtful, and meaningful interactions. She is particularly sensitive at facilitating honest and challenging discussions around a variety of difficult yet important topics. Her presentation style is dynamic and flexible, accommodating quickly to the emerging needs of the group she is working with. We hope we will have the opportunity to bring her to campus again”
Kevin Morrison, formerly from Earlham College, International Program Office

“…Jess showed me that the solution to ending racism and other social problems starts with my own assumptions and back stories I write about others. I not only limit others but myself and now I know how to think through a decision within my organization from many different angles…”
Craig T., University of Arizona

Comments from Jessica's session at Training of Trainers:

• She was really great and knowledgeable
• Very motivated, good talker, speaker & listener
• Awesome! Lots of energy, Knowledge, and passion
• Great job, very informative
• Excellent
• Very personal & use her own life experience to enhance the richness of the activities
• Jessica’s great! She really knows how to engage with people
• Comfortable, good job, and good skills
• Jess is awesome, open, honest, and personable
• Very approachable, personable
• Humor is really helpful
• Very skilled and personable
• Amazing communication skills, great presenter

“Jessica has an ease with her subject matter; one that seemingly comes from her extensive knowledge and polished public speaking/interaction skills. She presents her subject matter in a way that is tangible and usable for administrators, staff, faculty and students alike. The former is most notably present in her Keynote speech. Her presentation made it clear how each individual can change his/her own space; making it easier to effect and ultimately effectuate the change you want to see in the world.

"Often speakers may only really know how to reach certain audiences and can at times be a bit esoteric; Jessica has the ability to translate her knowledge to all who seek to learn. Our Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs was also impressed with her and mentioned they want to bring Jessica back in the future.”
Michael Mancini, Coordinator of Judicial Affairs, Office of the Vice President
Student Affairs, SUNY Fredonia

“She made intense situations hilarious and easy to handle.”
Katie McKie, Lower Columbia College

If you've attended one of Jessica's sessions, please provide your feedback at:
http://www.campuspeak.com/feedback/index.php

"Jessica brought an abundance of skill, talent, empathy and charm to our MCC campuses. Her most valuable attribute was her power of LISTENING. Each venue she visited offered a unique audience, each with particular agendas, hopes and fears as she walked in. Jessica was able to hear through the noise in each case to provide a tailored experience. She has helped us embark on a wonderful process of raising awareness and starting conversations about gender issues."
Nancy E. Harrington, Faculty, Biology Department, Metropolitan Community College

“Jessica can energize a group and have them talking to each other and laughing, which is no easy feat in the early morning or during an all-day event.”
Brett Genny Beemyn, Director, The Stonewall Center, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Past Chair, National Consortium of Director’s of LGBT Resources in Higher Education, and Board Member, Transgender Law and Policy Institute

A letter to Jessica's former supervisor:
We recently flew Jessica Pettitt here to Boise State University to conduct our staff and advisory board training. My staff and board gave me back such wonderful reviews that I had to write to let you know what a genuine treasure you have in her. Jessica trained my staff on how to be an ally for groups that you are not a part of. My staff enjoyed her style greatly, but above all they got so much from the training. She was able to give us a language that we can use to speak to each other and that in itself was a huge team builder. Jessica also tackled some pretty uncomfortable issues that our Board was having and mediated a key conversation between two board members that were still hurting from an earlier exchange. She did this so professionally and brilliantly that I wanted you to know how impressed we all were with her work. I plan to have her back perhaps mid-year to do some review with our staff and board. I know both groups are eager to have her back, as am I. Thank you for allowing her to come do our training, she was exactly what we needed.
Ro Parker, Boise State University

“… I am so glad I found you as I need you to know that your words still ring true with me. I returned to my campus, changed my major, and have tried to live my life everyday to be the change I want to see. Thank you — without your wake up call, the last three years would have been so normal and comfortable.”
Julie S. Graduate of Brown University