Jessica Long

Manager, New Worlds Reading Advancement

352.273.4103 • jessicalong@coe.ufl.edu

Jessica serves as the Senior Director of Advancement at the Lastinger Center for Learning. In this role, Jessica leads the philanthropic partnerships for the New Worlds Reading Initiative while also connecting corporate and foundations with other key initiatives at the center with her colleagues.

Jessica started in public health program implementation at non-profit health centers in Seattle. She returned to Florida, serving as Executive Director for UF Center for HIV/AIDS Research, Education and Service at the Department of Pediatrics in Jacksonville. Before joining the Lastinger Center, she led the Advancement team at UF Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience for 12 years, significantly expanding philanthropic and legislative support, and with leadership created a new research building and sea turtle hospital, new housing for the campus, while advancing research, conservation, and STEM education goals of the center.

A UF grad who majored in Anthropology and Latin American Studies and after a mission driven career start in Seattle, she moved back to the sunshine state to be close to the ocean in St. Augustine and continue the mission of improving the lives of families in Florida. In her free time, she enjoys our incredible flora and fauna with her family.