Jessica Berger

Vice President, University Advancement, CSUSM
~ Executive Director, CSUSM Foundation 

Jessica Berger is the Vice President of University Advancement and Executive Director of the CSUSM Foundation. In her role, she leads a talented team of professionals in the advancement division who are collectively focused on building a culture of philanthropy and developing meaningful relationships campus-wide and regionally in partnership with university students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members.

Jessica came to CSUSM from Harvey Mudd College where she served as Assistant Vice President for Development and oversaw all development-related activity in the Office of College Advancement. She launched new initiatives to strengthen donor stewardship, worked to enhance HMC’s visibility and fundraising efforts, and collaborated across the college and the community to implement successful giving campaigns, contributing to the success of HMC’s recent $175 million comprehensive campaign.

Prior to HMC, Jessica oversaw the annual giving program at Polytechnic School and managed alumni, parent and trustee volunteer fundraising activity and donor related events during a $93M comprehensive campaign. Jessica’s earlier experience includes fundraising for a non-profit orphanage foundation in Kenya, and social work-related activity for the U.S. House of Representatives and a residential treatment center.

 Jessica is a first-generation college graduate and as a native of Ohio, received a B.A. in Psychology from Wittenberg University and a M.S.W. from Cleveland State University. Jessica enjoys volunteering for several non-profits, mentoring and coaching student-athletes, scuba diving with her husband and spending time outdoors with her dogs.