Jessica Vanderpool
Jessica Vanderpool is the Director of Grants and Contracts at the National Sheriffs' Association, where she has served for nearly 12 years. In her current role, she oversees the full grants life cycle, including soliciting and writing proposals, managing multimillion-dollar funding, and leading a team of seven project managers and subject matter experts. Through these grant-funded initiatives, Jessica helps translate policy and evidence-based practices into practical training and resources for sheriffs nationwide, with a particular focus on supporting rural law enforcement. Her work spans critical areas such as jail operations, substance use and co-occurring disorders, crime reduction, domestic violence, school safety, traffic safety, and border security.
Jessica’s career began in education as a special education elementary teacher, a background that provided her with a deep understanding of instruction, program development, and systemic alignment. She transitioned into nonprofit law enforcement work through a family connection, quickly discovering that her teaching experience and passion for public service could be applied to strengthening community safety and officer training. Over the years, she has become a trusted leader within NSA, guiding grant initiatives that reach thousands of sheriffs and ultimately improve the safety and effectiveness of communities across the United States.
Outside of her professional work, Jessica is a devoted single mother to two young boys and enjoys traveling whenever possible. She is known for her instinct-driven leadership, dedication to measurable outcomes, and commitment to fostering collaboration across organizations. Jessica’s approach blends education, strategic management, and a focus on meaningful impact, reflecting her belief in empowering others and creating sustainable change in both law enforcement and the communities they serve.
• Postgraduate Professional License: Elementary Education PreK-6
• Nonprofit Leadership and Management
• Saint Louis University - M.A.
• National Sheriff's Association
• Ignite Program (Inmate Growth Naturally and Intentionally for Education)
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to a strong drive to lead a fulfilling life and a commitment to using my natural people-focused instincts in positive ways. I’ve learned to trust my own judgment and instincts—especially after a mentor encouraged me to rely less on assuming others knew more than I did. By combining self-awareness, adaptability, and resilience, I’ve been able to navigate challenges, make confident decisions, and achieve meaningful success.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received came from a supervisor about five years ago. He pointed out that I often assumed older male colleagues knew more than I did, and he encouraged me to trust my own instincts. That conversation had a profound impact on me. Since then, I’ve learned to rely on my judgment and trust my gut, which has made me more confident and successful. It reminded me how important it is—especially as women—to believe in ourselves and our abilities.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering this industry is to trust your instincts and go with your gut. Early in my career, I often assumed older male colleagues knew more than I did, but a mentor encouraged me to trust myself. That advice changed everything—I became more confident, decisive, and successful. Don’t second-guess yourself or assume others know better because of their gender or age; your intuition is a powerful guide.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in my field right now is scaling programs and trainings to reach rural sheriffs across all states. At the same time, there’s a tremendous opportunity to effect culture change in jails by promoting education, incentives, and mutual respect. Ultimately, the goal is to implement strategies that lead to measurable reductions in recidivism and create lasting, positive impact.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me in both my work and personal life are trusting my instincts, prioritizing education and collaboration, instilling hope, fostering mutual respect, and making a measurable difference in the communities I serve.
Locations
National Sheriffs' Association
Oakland, NJ 08107