A proud Cleveland Heights resident for 16 years, Jessica Cohen has worked for more than a decade to strengthen our community, champion smart policy, and lead with integrity.

PUBLIC SERVICE

Jessica’s commitment to public service in Cleveland Heights began in 2013, when she was appointed to the Citizens Advisory Committee. There, she collaborated with neighbors and local nonprofits to recommend allocations for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding that directly benefit Cleveland Heights residents. 

In 2015, City Council appointed Jessica to the Cleveland Heights Planning Commission, where she has served as Chair since 2019.  The Commission makes recommendations to Council and the Mayor on matters affecting the physical development of the City, including zoning changes and grants approval for most conditionally permitted uses and parcel changes. In this role, she also serves on the Cleveland Heights Board of Control.

In 2017, Jessica was appointed to the city’s first Charter Review Commission in over thirty years where she served as Vice Chair. Such commissions are convened by Council to review the city’s entire charter and recommend charter amendments to Council.

professional experience

Professionally, Jessica is an attorney and public policy leader with two decades of experience building and sustaining strategic partnerships.

As Policy Counsel at a Fortune 50 company, her practice focuses on cybersecurity, privacy, and artificial intelligence. She builds coalitions, develops advocacy strategies, and helps shape the company’s national approach to cutting-edge tech policy.

Before entering the legal field, Jessica worked in philanthropy and nonprofit leadership. She held senior roles at the Jewish Federation of Cleveland—where she became a recognized national leader in external affairs— and other Cleveland-based nonprofits.  

Jessica has successfully led teams in crafting and executing transformative initiatives, advised policymakers on public policy improvements, and managed multimillion-dollar budgets and fundraising portfolios.  

Earlier in her career, she served on the staff of U.S. Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy, where she ignited her love of government, policy, and public service.

Over the last 20 years, Jessica has served on a variety of nonprofit boards including Future Heights, Cleveland Heights Democrats, United Black Fund, and Hispanic Alliance. Currently, Jessica currently serves on the Human Resources and Community Relations committees of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland, the board of Bikur Cholim (a Jewish health support organization), the board of the national State Privacy and Security Coalition, as vice chair of the American Bar Association’s Privacy and Information Security Committee, and a Presidential Appointee on the ABA’s Cyber Legal Taskforce.

education

Bachelor of Arts, Government - Harvard University. 

  • Citations in Spanish and Hebrew. 

Master’s in Public Policy and Administration - Northwestern University.  

Juris Doctor summa cum laude - Cleveland State University College of Law

  • Attended the law school’s part-time evening program while working full-time

  • Graduated first in her class

  • Submissions Editor for the Cleveland State Law Review

  • Dean’s Leadership Fellow

  • Certificate in Cybersecurity and Data Privacy

who is jessica?

When not working or volunteering, Jessica loves to read (mostly historical and women's fiction + biographies), tries to get on her Peloton at least weekly, takes advantage of Playhouse Square's Broadway series each year, and schleps her kids to activities and family trips on the regular.  

She and her husband, Eric, a teacher in the Cleveland Heights-University Heights public schools district, have five adorable children, ranging in age from two to sixteen. 

honors & awards

Jessica has been recognized with multiple honors for her leadership, service, and impact, including:

  • Crain's Cleveland Business Forty Under 40 (2015)

  • Cleveland Jewish News Difference Maker (2019)

  • Cleveland 2030 Club – 25 Under 35 Movers and Shakers Award (2020)

  • Federal Communications Bar Association Foundation Law School Scholarship (2022)

  • Cleveland State University College of Law Alumni Association Scholarship (2022)

  • Ashbury Senior Computer Community Center Ujamaa Award (2022)

  • Girl Scouts of Northeast Ohio Woman of Distinction (2023)

  • International Association of Privacy Professionals Westin Scholar Award (2023)

  • OhioX Trailblazers Award for Women in Tech (2023)