Jessica Ayala
Manager of Marketing & Communications, Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund
Jessica Ayala, a proud first-generation Latina from Waukegan, IL, was raised in a home of hardworking migrant parents. Her commitment to education and access to opportunities began at a young age. As an eighth grader, she received the Daniel Murphy Scholarship, which supported her attendance at the rigorous college preparatory high school, Loyola Academy. During her time as a Murphy Scholar, Jessica worked as a golf caddie every summer to help cover her school expenses and to gain eligibility for the Chick Evans Caddie Scholarship, a full tuition and housing scholarship for caddies with financial need. She went on to study Advertising and Psychology at Marquette University as an Evans Scholar, becoming the first in her family to attend university.
Jessica started her career at a Milwaukee-based advertising agency as a broadcast producer, executing various commercial, radio, photography, and podcast production work for clients such as the Milwaukee Bucks, Corteva Agriscience, Zoetis, Raymond Corporation, Seaboard Foods, Veterinary Hope Foundation, Prairie Fresh, Zoro, Pioneer, and TEMPO Milwaukee. She was particularly invested in projects that allowed her to connect with the community and tell their stories. Most recently, she directed the short film “Direct Positive” for the women’s leadership nonprofit TEMPO Milwaukee. The film, which captures the experiences of Milwaukee women leaders through portraits and intense interviews, premiered at the 2022 Milwaukee Film Festival and won multiple awards, including “Best Documentary” at the FEEDBACK Female Film Festival and “Gold in ProBono Campaigns” with the Global ACE Awards.
After over five years in the for-profit sector, Jessica transitioned to the non-profit world, joining the Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund (DMSF) as their first-ever Manager of Marketing & Communications. Deeply connected to the organization that supported her education, Jessica now leads efforts in event branding, production, fundraising initiatives, constituent recruitment, and public relations. One of her proudest projects is producing a mural for DMSF in collaboration with creative entrepreneur and DMSF alum Karen Spears. This mural, displayed on the Wintrust building overlooking the I-90 Kennedy Expressway, significantly increased brand awareness and earned media coverage for DMSF.
Jessica's work is fueled by a passion for connecting families of color to vital resources, ensuring all can thrive and contribute positively to society. Her leadership style emphasizes collaboration, storytelling, compassion, and knowledge sharing. She holds a B.A. in Communications from Marquette University, certifications from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Business in Nonprofit Marketing Strategies, and is a member of the National Partnership for Education Access (NPEA).
Jessica’s dedication to equity and mentorship is evident through her volunteer service as a Group Mentor with The Niche Mentorship, an Advisor with the Mezcla Film Collective, an Art Director with L.U.N.A. (Latinas United in the Arts), a presenter on personal branding for YWCA’s Career Readiness programs, a career panelist with the Evans Scholars Foundation, and a podcast guest for the Mano A Mano Family Resource Center.
When she is not serving her community, Jessica enjoys spending quality time with family, attending concerts, weightlifting, trying new recipes, and going to pilates with friends. Jessica is excited to join the Baumhart Scholars MBA’s sixth cohort to further grow in leadership and strengthen her ability to combine profit and purpose in her contributions to her communities.
Manager of Marketing & Communications, Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund
Jessica Ayala, a proud first-generation Latina from Waukegan, IL, was raised in a home of hardworking migrant parents. Her commitment to education and access to opportunities began at a young age. As an eighth grader, she received the Daniel Murphy Scholarship, which supported her attendance at the rigorous college preparatory high school, Loyola Academy. During her time as a Murphy Scholar, Jessica worked as a golf caddie every summer to help cover her school expenses and to gain eligibility for the Chick Evans Caddie Scholarship, a full tuition and housing scholarship for caddies with financial need. She went on to study Advertising and Psychology at Marquette University as an Evans Scholar, becoming the first in her family to attend university.
Jessica started her career at a Milwaukee-based advertising agency as a broadcast producer, executing various commercial, radio, photography, and podcast production work for clients such as the Milwaukee Bucks, Corteva Agriscience, Zoetis, Raymond Corporation, Seaboard Foods, Veterinary Hope Foundation, Prairie Fresh, Zoro, Pioneer, and TEMPO Milwaukee. She was particularly invested in projects that allowed her to connect with the community and tell their stories. Most recently, she directed the short film “Direct Positive” for the women’s leadership nonprofit TEMPO Milwaukee. The film, which captures the experiences of Milwaukee women leaders through portraits and intense interviews, premiered at the 2022 Milwaukee Film Festival and won multiple awards, including “Best Documentary” at the FEEDBACK Female Film Festival and “Gold in ProBono Campaigns” with the Global ACE Awards.
After over five years in the for-profit sector, Jessica transitioned to the non-profit world, joining the Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund (DMSF) as their first-ever Manager of Marketing & Communications. Deeply connected to the organization that supported her education, Jessica now leads efforts in event branding, production, fundraising initiatives, constituent recruitment, and public relations. One of her proudest projects is producing a mural for DMSF in collaboration with creative entrepreneur and DMSF alum Karen Spears. This mural, displayed on the Wintrust building overlooking the I-90 Kennedy Expressway, significantly increased brand awareness and earned media coverage for DMSF.
Jessica's work is fueled by a passion for connecting families of color to vital resources, ensuring all can thrive and contribute positively to society. Her leadership style emphasizes collaboration, storytelling, compassion, and knowledge sharing. She holds a B.A. in Communications from Marquette University, certifications from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Business in Nonprofit Marketing Strategies, and is a member of the National Partnership for Education Access (NPEA).
Jessica’s dedication to equity and mentorship is evident through her volunteer service as a Group Mentor with The Niche Mentorship, an Advisor with the Mezcla Film Collective, an Art Director with L.U.N.A. (Latinas United in the Arts), a presenter on personal branding for YWCA’s Career Readiness programs, a career panelist with the Evans Scholars Foundation, and a podcast guest for the Mano A Mano Family Resource Center.
When she is not serving her community, Jessica enjoys spending quality time with family, attending concerts, weightlifting, trying new recipes, and going to pilates with friends. Jessica is excited to join the Baumhart Scholars MBA’s sixth cohort to further grow in leadership and strengthen her ability to combine profit and purpose in her contributions to her communities.