PROFILE | Jessica Todtman
Jessica Todtman Interim President
Jessica Todtman is Interim President of the National Association of Higher Education Systems (NASH), where she works to advance prosperity for the nation by leveraging her strong foundation in education policy and strategic leadership.
Initially joining NASH as Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, Jessica has led efforts to become a more sustainable and effective organization. She successfully launched the Catalyst Fund, which has awarded nearly $1M to NASH members in recognition of innovative programs; established revenue-generating corporate partnerships that help systems respond to major challenges; created Leadership Councils led by member representatives to further expand the organization’s reach and impact; and secured over $1.5M in new external funding.
Her extensive experience serving under two governors and in three systems across the P-20 spectrum in vastly different state contexts enriches her understanding of the national policy landscape and equips her to address the pressing issues facing NASH member systems.
In Nevada, Jessica was the Deputy Superintendent of Educator Effectiveness and Family Engagement at the Department of Education (NDE). In this capacity, she led a team that oversaw educator licensure, development, career and technical education, adult education, and school safety. As NDE’s first Chief Strategy Officer, she worked closely with the State Superintendent to develop and implement agency-wide initiatives, including coordinating the response to COVID-19. Notably, she contributed to the Connecting Kids initiative, making Nevada the first state in the nation to provide learning-ready devices and internet access to over 100,000 students who otherwise could not have engaged in remote learning. Additionally, she spearheaded a pioneering partnership with DonorsChoose, investing $8 million in federal relief funds to support over 11,000 classroom projects by funding the frontline wisdom of educators – an effort that was ultimately replicated in five states.
In New York, Jessica served as Chief of Staff in the Office of P-20 Education Policy at the State Education Department. In this role, she enhanced staff development, fostered relationships with regional superintendents, coordinated the distinguished educator school intervention model, and facilitated collaboration between K-12 districts and higher education institutions on topics such as teacher preparation, longitudinal data sharing, and dual enrollment.
In the postsecondary sector, Jessica was a senior policy advisor to the Chancellor of The State University of New York (SUNY), where she coordinated messaging and shared best practices among the system’s 64 campuses. Her portfolio included federal relations, managing a $50 million economic and workforce development program, overseeing a $100 million performance incentive fund, and spearheading SUNY’s Critical Issues in Higher Education Conference.
Jessica lives in Las Vegas with her husband and children, one of whom she recently helped through the college application process and another with transferring between institutions—a true lived experience through many of the practices NASH aims to help its members improve through student-centered approaches. She holds a Certificate in Education Leadership and Management from Georgetown University, a Master of Public Administration from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University, and a B.A. in Government from Dartmouth College.