Jessica Harpole serves as the Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students. She has been a member of The W family for more than 15 years, and she has served in several roles since returning to her alma mater in 2009.  

As Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students, Jessica provides leadership to the following functional areas within the division: counseling, behavioral intervention, housing, student government, and student life (community service, diversity education, leadership, registered organizations, social clubs and Greek life, student programming, and welcome week).

Jessica holds a master of science degree in higher education administration from Florida State University, a bachelor of science degree in social science from Mississippi University for Women, and an associate of arts degree from East Mississippi Community College. Before returning to The W as the coordinator of leadership and service, Jessica worked at the University of Missouri-Columbia as a residence hall coordinator. In addition to her work outside of the classroom, she has also spent time as an instructor in leadership. She has had the opportunity to serve as an adjunct faculty member at The W and as a teaching assistant at Florida State University.

Jessica’s experience as an undergraduate exposed her to student affairs and helped pave the way for her career in education. An advocate for students, she believes in the importance of enhancing the academic experience through student engagement. She is committed to the growth of students and staff by challenging them as individuals, providing support through mentorship, and encouraging collaboration.