Jackie Jenkins-Scott, President and Founder of JJS Advising, is a dynamic and accomplished Executive widely recognized as an innovative and transformational leader. She brings a proven track record of over three decades in leading mission driven institutions from vulnerability to high performing levels. As a strategic thinker with special skills in bringing together the diverse talents in a Board, professional staff, the business and civic community, she has used her skills and leadership experiences to contribute to many corporate and civic organizations where she is valued as a visionary and strategic leader.
Prior to founding JJS Advising, a consulting firm focusing on executive coaching, leadership development and organizational strategy, she served for twelve years as President of Wheelock College, Boston, MA. As Wheelock’s 13th President, Jenkins-Scott was a passionate advocate in fulfilling the college’s unique and compelling mission to improve the lives of children and families. Under her strategic leadership, the college significantly increased its endowment, nearly doubled enrollment, and completed the College’s first facilities masterplan resulting in the construction of contemporary multipurpose Campus Center, modern renovations to three student dormitories, a new state-of-art technology based Center for Learning and Innovation. She added new areas of study including cross-disciplinary and online programs, increased undergraduate enrollment by over 50 percent and representation of ethnically and differently-abled students by 40 percent. Her emphasis on internationalization enhanced the student and faculty experience.
In 1983, Jenkins-Scot became the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Dimock Community Health Center (now the Dimock Center) in Roxbury, Massachusetts, now one of the largest community based health and human service organization’s serving diverse, vulnerable populations. Under her leadership, Dimock emerged from the verge of bankruptcy to a highly successful and sustainable benchmark institution that successfully integrated comprehensive health and human services including new programming in workforce development, primary and behavioral healthcare, child and family centered services, transitional housing, and a community-based research program to develop innovative strategies for meeting the priority needs of inner-city residents. Under her watch, the Dimock Center built and renovated eight buildings on the Center’s ten acre campus making it a model for turning a blighted inner-city facility into a shining light of hope.
Jenkins-Scott has served on the Board of Directors of numerous corporate, civic and community based organizations. She served for ten years on the Board of The Boston Foundation, the region’s largest community based foundation, fifteen years on the Board of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation, and twelve years on the Tufts Health Plan Board. She was a founding member of the Tufts Health Plan Foundation Board where she served for a decade. She is currently Board Chair of the Schott Foundation for Public Education (2017- ), a member of the National Board of Jumpstart Inc. and the Center for Community Change, Washington D.C. She serves as the President of the Massachusetts Women’s Forum (2018-20) and on the Advisory Board of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation. In 2017, Jenkins-Scott was appointed by Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker to service on the Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities and Public Policy.
Jenkins-Scott has been appointed to many special commissions and civic projects including an appointment by former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick to Co-Chair, the Massachusetts Readiness Project which provided a 10 year strategic plan for improving educational outcomes in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. In 2005, Former Mayor of Boston, Thomas Menino appointed her to Co-Chair the School Readiness Action Planning Project which produced a plan for early education in the City of Boston.
In 2018, Jenkins-Scott served as the Richard L. and Ronay A. Menschel Senior Leadership Fellow at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. From 2016-2018, she was a Fellow in the Distinguished Public Service Leaders Fellowship Program at the Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy, University of Massachusetts Boston.
Jenkins-Scott has received over 120 awards and citations including the 2005 Associated Industries of Massachusetts legacy of Leadership Award, 2004 Pinnacle Lifetime Achievement Award from the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce. The 2004 Distinguished Alumni Award from Boston University and the Boston Visiting Nurses Association Lifetime Achievement Award.
Jenkins-Scott received her B.S. degree from Eastern Michigan University, a Masters of Social Work from Boston University School of Social Work and completed a Post graduate Research Fellowship at Radcliffe College. She has received six Honorary Doctorate Degrees from Northeastern University, Suffolk University, University of Massachusetts Boston, Bentley University, Mt. Ida College and Wheelock College.
She is a sought after speaker and presenter. The 7 Secrets of Responsive Leadership is her first book publication.
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