Home Wisconsin Jessica Boling named assistant deputy director at WHEDA

Jessica Boling named assistant deputy director at WHEDA

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The Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) announced in a release Thursday that Jessica Boling has been selected by Governor Tony Evers to serve as WHEDA’s Assistant Deputy Executive Director.

In this executive leadership role, Boling will utilize her community outreach, engagement, and advocacy experience to expand WHEDA’s mission in underserved communities, the release said.

Boling is currently the co-chair for the Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) Coalition of Wisconsin. Under her leadership the organization launched a first-of-its kind statewide coalition to amplify the AAPI voice, build awareness, lead advocacy projects, and raise funding for key initiatives. Earlier this year, the Coalition helped pass a resolution at the Wisconsin Association of School Boards to develop an AAPI history and culture curriculum for Wisconsin public schools.

Boling’s leadership experience spans across many different sectors, industries, geographies, and communities. Her outreach and advocacy work includes multinational engagements in Haiti, Gambia, Guatemala, Cameroon, and South Korea. As the former Director of Operations for one of the first angel investment groups in the state, she helped secure investments for Wisconsin-based startups as well as hosted a South Korean business delegation in Milwaukee and Boston.

“Jessica’s vast community development and engagement knowledge is a tremendous asset for us,” WHEDA CEO Elmer Moore, Jr., said in a statement. “I look forward to working with her and leveraging her leadership at the state, national, and international level to foster greater housing and economic opportunity for all who work and live in Wisconsin.”

“Advocating for economic vitality and opportunity for all different types and sizes of communities of color impacted by systemic racism has been the foundation for my professional career,” Boling said in a statement. “I look forward to using my multinational and multicultural work to help WHEDA advance sustainable housing and economic growth in diverse communities throughout Wisconsin.”

Boling received her Bachelor’s in Social Work with a focus on International Development from Seattle University and her Master’s in Social Work with a focus on Community Organizing, Policy and Administration from Boston College. In addition to being the co-chair for the AAPI Coalition of Wisconsin, Boling also serves as a member for the Governor’s Equity and Inclusion Council; commissioner for the City of Milwaukee Equal Rights Commission; board member for Doyenne, a nonprofit that provides professional development for women entrepreneurs; founding member for ElevAsian, a Greater Milwaukee group elevating the AAPI community; and board member for the National Association of Asian American Professionals. She currently lives in Milwaukee. Before moving to Milwaukee, she completed a Fulbright Fellowship in Cameroon. She was named one of Wisconsin’s most influential Asian American leaders by Madison365 in 2020.