Loyola grad puts Jesuit ideals into action

Two years ago, Jasmine L. Jenkins, Ph.D., ’06, was looking for opportunities to move closer to her family in the northeast. Fortunately, her timing aligned with Bloomberg Philanthropies’ search for an expert to help expand their advocacy work in comprehensive education reform.

Jenkins was a perfect fit for the education advocacy role, especially given her years of experience in nonprofit leadership, people management, and government and community relations.

In her position as senior program officer of education and advocacy at Bloomberg, Jenkins co-manages the K-12 education and advocacy portfolio, working to ensure a high-quality education for all students.

“It’s such a gift to be at a place where my values are aligned with the work that I’m doing—as well as have access to the resources to support work that is really meaningful and makes a difference for kids,” said Jenkins, who is based in New York City.

At Loyola’s 2024 Commencement, the University honored Jenkins with the Carroll Medal, recognizing her as an inspiring and committed changemaker with mission-oriented leadership. In her role and throughout her career, Jenkins has leaned into her passion for advocacy, service, and empathy for underserved communities.

Path to Evergreen

As a high school student in Indiana, Pennsylvania, Jenkins found that many of her peers planned to attend the large state school nearby. Jenkins quickly realized, however, that she was looking for something different.

“I wanted a close-knit community, one where service was front and center,” she remembered. She was also drawn to living in a larger, more diverse city than her hometown. Loyola fit the bill—and Jenkins made it a point to squeeze everything she could out of her experience.

She got involved with the Black Student Association and gospel choir. She served as chair of the Loyola College Honor Council and as a columnist for The Greyhound student newspaper. She expanded her horizons through service opportunities in Baltimore and by studying abroad in Spain before graduating with a B.A. in Modern Languages & Literatures and Political Science.

Lessons in Leadership

After graduation, Jenkins continued to leave her mark on Loyola by serving on the University’s Board of Trustees, an experience she says still informs her leadership work today. “It was a really good way to stay connected to the University and to recognize some of the challenges that leaders face when steering a ship that large.”

Jenkins also joined the nonprofit organization Teach for America and taught bilingual (Spanish/English) fourth grade in Houston.

After a few years, Jenkins knew she wanted to expand her impact, and decided to earn her M.A. and Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Houston. That chapter in her educational journey introduced her to more ways to help underserved children through community organizing and advocacy in the education field.

Before joining Bloomberg, Jenkins served as founding executive director of Houstonians for Great Public Schools, a non-profit organization that focuses on advocacy at the local school board level.

Jesuit Educated

In her current role with Bloomberg Philanthropies, Jenkins continues to reflect on the lessons in service, leadership, and community she learned from her Jesuit education. “My life has certainly been enriched by Loyola,” she said. “My education always encouraged me to continue exploring what it means to be a woman for and with others.”