Kelsey Jessup

Kelsey Jessup is a Climate and Nature-Based Solutions Project Director for The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in California. She works to further TNC’s goal of increasing the pace and scale of implementation of nature-based climate solutions.

Kelsey’s work includes overseeing the development of a multi-benefit climate resilience and habitat enhancement demonstration project along the LA River; leading efforts to break down barriers for project implementation at the local, regional, and state level; representing TNC in public forums; building partnerships; and strategy development. Kelsey’s work has often focused on urban areas and how nature can help to mitigate the impacts of climate change, such as extreme heat.

Before joining TNC, Kelsey worked as a project manager at the UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation where she led the center’s Urban Greening Initiative. Kelsey lead research and reports on the use of technology in parks, creation of an LA River greenway, and cost effectiveness of turf replacement programs. She spearheaded a study of recreational use and access in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area and helped to identify opportunities for improvements.

Kelsey was a Bohnett Fellow and earned her Master of Public Policy with academic honors from the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs. During graduate school, she worked at the Los Angeles Mayor’s Office of Budget and Innovation as a policy analyst.