Jody Weseman

Jody Weseman is a dedicated program analyst and youth development professional with 20 years of experience in environmental education, community outreach, and program leadership. She credits AmeriCorps for launching her career, beginning with the Washington Conservation Corps and then the Backcountry Trails program of the California Conservation Corps. She spent seven years as a trail worker in Yosemite, running crews and working with youth in a male-dominated field. After earning her Bachelor's of Science in Recreation Arts Tourism Administration from Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo in 2011, she took on various supervisor roles with the California Conservation Corps, leading youth programs for those on probation or in foster care as well as traditional trail-building crews. For the past 15 years, she has led the expansion of the Watershed Stewards Program, an AmeriCorps fisheries restoration initiative, growing it across Central and Southern California from Point Reyes to Santa Barbara. She recruits partners, trains them in mentorship, oversees the safety and education of 44 young Corpsmembers each year during their 10.5-month terms, provides direct supervision, and writes grants to sustain the program.