Jessica Pontarelli Evans
Assistant Director of Communications at Brown University, Swearer Center for Public Service
Jessica leads communications at the Swearer Center for Public Service at Brown University, where she provides strategic and high-level communications and stewardship support. She also directs communications for Brown’s Office of Community Engagement and oversees the Community Storytelling Fellowship, which highlights the voices and civic impact of students and community partners. Jessica joined Brown in 2015, first supporting communication for the sciences before moving into internal communications for the university’s 3,000+ employees. Her background bridges public service, digital strategy and institutional storytelling.
Jessica holds a bachelor’s degree in Communications from Rhode Island College and a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership. She also holds professional certifications in copy editing and graphic design.
University websites are more than just information hubs—they are platforms for civic identity, public trust and community connection. As Drupal developers, designers, digital strategists and more, you are shaping the narratives students and the broader public encounter first. This session explores how digital teams working in Drupal can help their institutions communicate civic purpose, reflect community values and hold the line on trust. From inclusive design to content governance, we’ll talk about how web professionals can help meet this moment.