Dr. Jessica Chavez: Transforming STEM Education Through Leadership and Community

Title: Vice President of Education & Chief Learning and Community Partnership Officer

Organization: ​​Griffin Museum of Science and Industry

Age: 39

Dr. Jessica Chavez is the Ruth D. and Ken M. Davee Vice President of Education and Chief Learning and Community Partnership Officer at MSI. In this role, Dr. Chavez leads the museum’s Education division and the Partnerships and Community Engagement team, which builds and expands MSI’s commitment to create authentic and meaningful relationships throughout Chicagoland and beyond.

Dr. Chavez has been working in museum education since 2015. She has a track record of influencing organizational movement through data-driven, research based best practices from business and formal education. Dr. Chavez is dedicated to supporting her community and providing resources to those that have barriers in populations of need. Her holistic approach to STEM education is not a one-size-fits-all, and meets people where they are at to ensure not only resources are being provided, but empowering the community she serves.

She started her career at Arizona Science Center as the Vice President of Innovative Learning Strategies at the Center where she implemented and strategized professional learning for educators across the state of Arizona. In 2020, Dr. Chavez was recruited by the Perot Museum of Nature and Science in Dallas, Texas where she expanded learning initiatives to the Dallas community, ensuring alignment in support of K-12 education, and creating pipeline programming for college and career readiness. She was also instrumental in helping the museum bounce back from the pandemic.

Prior to non-profit work, Dr. Chavez was an educator in Mesa, Arizona. She holds a B.A. in Art Education and M.A. in Educational Technology from Arizona State University, and an Ed.D in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University. Additionally, she was in the Learning Forward’s 2020 class and Leadership Texas Women’s 2022 class.

Boards and Nonprofits: She is actively engaged in civic and professional leadership as a member of Leadership Greater Chicago’s Signature Fellows Program, Class of 2025. She serves as a Board Member of the American Alliance of Museums and is an Affiliate of Learning Forward Arizona. She is also a member of the Association of Science and Technology Centers.