MADISON – The Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) has announced that Jessica Boling has been selected by Governor Tony Evers to serve as WHEDA’s Assistant Deputy Executive Director. In this executive leadership role, Boling will utilize her community outreach, engagement, and advocacy experience to expand WHEDA’s mission in underserved communities.
Boling has extensive experience working with community and nonprofit organizations in various management roles that focus on engaging and mobilizing diverse communities at a state, national, and international level. Boling is currently the co-chair for the Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) Coalition of Wisconsin. Under her leadership she recruited AAPI leaders to help launch a first-of-its kind statewide coalition to amplify the APPI voice, build awareness, lead advocacy projects, and raise funding for key initiatives. Earlier this year, the Coalition helped pass a resolution at the Wisconsin Association of School Boards to develop an AAPI history and culture curriculum for Wisconsin public schools.
Boling’s leadership experience spans across many different sectors, industries, geographies, and communities. Her outreach and advocacy work includes multinational engagements in Haiti, Gambia, Guatemala, Cameroon, and South Korea. As the former Director of Operations for one of the first angel investment groups in the state, she helped secure investments for Wisconsin-based startups as well as hosted a South Korean business delegation in Milwaukee and Boston.
“Jessica’s vast community development and engagement knowledge is a tremendous asset for us,” said WHEDA CEO Elmer Moore, Jr., “I look forward to working with her and leveraging her leadership at the state, national and international level to foster greater housing and economic opportunity for all who work and live in Wisconsin.”
“Advocating for economic vitality and opportunity for all different types and sizes of communities of color impacted by systemic racism has been the foundation for my professional career,” said Boling. “I look forward to using my multinational and multicultural work to help WHEDA advance sustainable housing and economic growth in diverse communities throughout Wisconsin.”
Boling received her Bachelor’s in Social Work with a focus on International Development from Seattle University and her Master’s in Social Work with a focus on Community Organizing, Policy and Administration from Boston College. In addition to being the co-chair for the AAPI Coalition of Wisconsin, Boling also serves as a member for the Governor’s Equity and Inclusion Council; commissioner for the City of Milwaukee Equal Rights Commission; board member for Doyenne, a nonprofit that provides professional development for women entrepreneurs; founding member for ElevAsian, a Greater Milwaukee group elevating the AAPI community; and board member for the National Association of Asian American Professionals. She currently lives in Milwaukee. Before moving to Milwaukee, she completed a Fulbright Fellowship in Cameroon.
