Jes Wickham (they/them) graduated from SUNY Oswego with a bachelor’s in journalism, after which they became the managing editor of the weekly newspaper Tompkins Weekly. They worked there for three years, writing articles, editing the paper, and more, but eventually decided they wanted to try something else.
Jes said they heard about the communications manager role over email and were drawn to it because it seemed like an effective use of the skill set they’d built at Tompkins Weekly, plus it was a chance to expand into a new subject matter and help combat climate change on some level.
Jes is now communications manager for the five Regional Clean Energy Hubs that are either closely partnered with or led by Cornell Cooperative Extension offices across the state. This includes the Capital, Long Island, Mid-Hudson, Mohawk Valley and Southern Tier regions. They create the print materials our Community Energy Advisors (CEAs) use in our outreach, keep websites up to date with information, and create resources from which all Hubs can benefit.
Jes said they enjoy being able to work with people across the state, exposing them to more backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives. And because they manage communications in five regions, they can create a unified message while still allowing each region to cater to their population’s needs.
“Though the Regional Clean Energy Hubs are not the catch-all solution to climate change, they’re still crucial in this effort; they help individuals, families and businesses save money on their energy bills, which makes a big difference for many of those living on little income. And when enough of these changes are made collectively, they can make a big difference for the health of our planet.”
When Jes is not working, they can usually be found crafting, whether that’s crocheting, modeling, drawing, or sewing. They’re also an avid writer and are working to publish their first novel soon. Contact Jes with any communications questions at jw2582@cornell.edu.