Leadership

Michelle Jackson President/CEO - Leadership

 Email
  LinkedIn Profile
  702-214-0503

Michelle Jackson is the President and CEO of Junior Achievement of Nevada, a role she has held since July 1, 2026, when Junior Achievement of Southern Nevada and Junior Achievement of Northern Nevada united to form one statewide organization. A dedicated nonprofit leader, Michelle has spent more than a decade advancing opportunities for young people through financial literacy, workforce readiness and entrepreneurship education.

Previously, Michelle served as President of Junior Achievement of Southern Nevada beginning in 2014, where she led the organization's strategic direction, growth and community impact. Under her leadership, the organization expanded its reach across Las Vegas-area kindergarten through 12th grade classrooms and to young adults ages 18 to 25, helping more than 142,000 students develop the knowledge and skills they need to navigate their financial futures. She has consistently worked to strengthen partnerships with educators, business leaders, philanthropists and community stakeholders to ensure students have access to meaningful, real-world learning experiences.

Michelle is widely recognized for her ability to turn vision into action. Her leadership was instrumental in the creation of the JA Inspiration Center, which opened in 2024 as the first facility of its kind in Nevada. Through a capital campaign that raised more than $19 million, Junior Achievement purchased and renovated a 40,000-square-foot learning center that became home to JA BizTown and JA Finance Park, two nationally acclaimed, hands-on programs that help students connect classroom learning with personal finance, career exploration and entrepreneurship. The facility positioned the organization to expand its annual reach to nearly 60,000 students.

As President and CEO of Junior Achievement of Nevada, Michelle now leads the organization's statewide vision, guiding efforts to strengthen operations, expand student impact and enhance program development and fundraising across Nevada. Her work is rooted in the belief that financial literacy and career preparedness can transform lives, open doors and help foster economic mobility.

Before joining Junior Achievement, Michelle served as Director of Development at New Vista, where she led a capital campaign to support the first senior living facility and medical clinic for individuals with intellectual challenges. She has served on the Nevada Jump$tart Board, is a Jameson Fellowship fellow and is a member of Non-Profit Female CEOs and Leadership Las Vegas Class of 2020. She is also passionate about mentoring emerging nonprofit professionals and supporting the next generation of community leadership.

Michelle earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communications, with an emphasis in advertising and business marketing, from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She also holds a certification in nonprofit management and an advanced certificate in human resource management from UNLV. Throughout her career, Michelle has remained focused on creating brighter futures for young people and building stronger communities across Nevada.