In many ways, Jessica Reed embodies Russell Conwell’s vision for Temple students. A scholar with the grades, awards, and scholarships to prove it, Reed is a community servant who is working to improve the lives of Philadelphians and constantly seeking new ways to help others. She calls it “paying it forward.”

A native of Anchorage, Alaska, Reed is a Bill and Melinda Gates Millienium Scholar and Ronald E. McNair Scholar graduating with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Human Resources Management, with a second major in Philosophy.

Reed was called to service after the tragic drowning of two young boys in her hometown. She wanted to make sure none of her other community members suffered the same fate, so she organized the community, held fundraisers, worked with government officials and the media and raised enough money to construct three bridges spanning the waterway and memorializing the boys. The success of the project helped Jessica understand how big an impact individuals working together can have.

“One of the most important things I learned at Temple was that you need to have a network of people who help support you and in turn you help support them,” said Reed. “Since I am from so far away from home here I had to build my network from the ground up.”

Reed has served in a numerous leadership roles, including Temple’s Progressive NAACP, Temple Student Government, Office of Community Relation and has been heavily involved in her church, First Tabernacle, a Hebrew Israelite congregation in South Philadelphia. She is also the outgoing president of Pennsylvania’s State NAACP Youth and College Division.

Reed’s network of support extends beyond the classroom — connecting her to her adopted hometown. In addition to her professors and academic advisors, she credits much of her success to Temple’s facilities staff, cafeteria workers and office managers and members of her church.

“Philadelphia and Anchorage are very different places, but with the help of so many different people across the city, I’ve been able to succeed,” said Reed.

The weekend following commencement, Reed will marry her fiancé, Philadelphia native Joshua Thomas. In the fall, she’ll begin her Ph.D. on full scholarship at the University of Delaware’s School of Education and Human Development.