Jessi Whipple

Jessi Whipple (’10) is the executive director of the alumni association and the director of operations for University Development. Whipple serves as the Southern Virginia University’s official representative for alumni and liaison between the alumni association and university.

With a professional background in information systems and project management, Whipple has played a key role in improving internal campus communications. In the summer of 2020, as the University prepared for its first semester operating with students in pandemic conditions, Whipple developed a virtual onboarding system for all members of the campus community to help promote understanding of and compliance with the University’s Healthy Campus Plan. The following year, Whipple led broad efforts to implement the University’s Knight App which has dramatically enhanced internal campus communication, especially for students.

Whipple graduated from Southern Virginia University in 2010. As a student, she served on the Student Association Executive Council while competing on the women’s volleyball team—for which she earned Academic All-American honors—and performing in Chamber Choir as well as multiple theatrical productions. In addition to her responsibilities in University Development and the alumni association, Whipple also teaches a course for foundational students called “Reading for the Liberal Arts.”

Following graduation from Southern Virginia, Whipple earned her master’s degree in library and information sciences as well as a graduate certificate in youth services and literature from the University of Southern Mississippi. She has served as instructor of library and information sciences at the USM and also served on the USM Council on Community Literacy and Reading, which provides free books to the local community through hosted literacy events.