Meet Our Scholars

Jesse Gilliam has spent over 20 years in nonprofit and government communications, advocacy, and public policy roles. He currently serves as a senior policy advisor at the City of Seattle, working on equity in City contracting for women- and BIPOC-owned businesses and most recently supporting the City’s COVID-19 efforts. Other roles include serving as the communications and policy director at Washington STEM, an education advocacy organization; and working as a legislative aide to a Seattle City councilmember. Jesse has a master’s degree in public policy and women’s studies from the George Washington University, which he received thanks to the support of the Point Foundation. Jesse also has a BA in economics and women’s studies from the University of Virginia While at UVA, he co-founded the Day of Silence, which is now the nation’s largest youth-led lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender advocacy event. Jesse is a proud transgender man who lives in Seattle, Washington with his wife, Jamie, and two furry dogs. Outside of work, he enjoys cycling, water aerobics, and a dance class no one has heard of called Oula.