Jessica Lopez

Jessica Lopez is an advocate and full-time student at the W.P. Carey School of Business, at Arizona State University. She previously studied as a triple-major student in Business, Economics, and Communication at Coastline College. Drawing on her lived experience as a woman born without hands and feet, she advocates for inclusive and accessible education and workforces. In addition to her academic pursuits, she is student leader and works within the disability policy sector.

Jessica previously served as a 2023 AAPD intern at the Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP). As a Policy Advisor Intern at ODEP, Jessica conducted policy research and promotes policies to increase disability inclusion in the workforce. Alongside her internship, she is Corporate Training Consultant for the Center for Disability Inclusion and works with companies interested in building disability-inclusive initiatives. Beyond her current roles, Jessica contributed as a Disability Inclusion Communication Specialist, collaborating with Richard Pimental and Milt Wright & Associates to update the Windmills training program. Previously, she was Social Media Manager and Partnerships Coordinator at Diversability, where she worked to elevate the disability community and change the way people view disability. Jessica's journey also includes an internship in marketing at Alation, a notable Silicon Valley tech company.

As President of Coastline Associated Student Government, Jessica authored and championed a Disability Inclusion Resolution passed at the state level. Jessica's resolution advocates for increased disability cultural initiatives, equity and accessibility training, and institutional support for students with disabilities. The resolution is currently shaping policies within the California Community College System for 2 million students. Additionally, Jessica served as Treasurer of Region VIII of the Student Senate for California Community Colleges (SSCCC), a nonprofit student organization recognized by California law to represent 2 million students in state legislative advocacy. Through her work with the SSCCC, Jessica advocated for marginalized students in the education system, and led student efforts to campaign for disability rights. Her dedication to advocacy also led her to the California State Capitol, where she engaged with legislators to advocate for more accessible education.

Jessica was recently selected as a 2023-2024 Coelho Law Fellow at LMU Loyola Law School. The Coelho Fellowship is a competitive program for disabled students interested in law school, with the goal of increasing disabled representation in the legal profession. Participants participate in a year-long program consisting of a vigorous academic law course and a capstone advocacy project. Jessica also was honored with the Obama-Chesky Voyager Scholarship for Public Service. The Voyager Scholarship is a $50,000 scholarship administered by the Obama Foundation and aimed at supporting students pursuing careers in public service by providing access to travel and education. 

Alongside her academics and leadership, Jessica is active in the corporate world, consulting on accessibility and disability-inclusive DEI strategy. With experiences spanning public policy, government, social enterprises, B2B tech, nonprofits, and public institutions, she works to interrupt the narratives we frequently believe about people with disabilities to make the world more equitable.