Jessy C. Ayestas, Ph.D.


Jessy C. Ayestas Hernández
  • Awards and Outreach Coordinator
She/Her/Hers

Contact Info

Strong Hall, Room 213
1450 Jayhawk Blvd.
Lawrence, KS 66045

Biography

Jessy joined the Office of Graduate Studies as a Graduate Assistant in 2016 and is currently our Awards and Outreach Coordinator. In this role, she is responsible for all pre- and post-award processes of graduate student, faculty, and staff awards administered by the Office of Graduate Studies. Jessy is also responsible for the development, implementation, and execution of signature graduate student events and competitions including the Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) competition, the Capitol Graduate Research Summit (CGRS), and Graduate-Professional Student Appreciation Week. Additionally, this position serves as the office’s main point of contact for the Doctoral Hooding Ceremony.

Originally from Honduras, Jessy moved to Lawrence in 2015 as a Fulbright scholar to pursue a doctoral degree. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering and a master’s in Business Management – both from Unitec, Honduras – and has recently earned a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at KU. 

Education

Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, The University of Kansas, 2022, Lawrence, KS
M.S. in Business Management, Universidad Tecnológica Centroamericana | Unitec, 2005, Honduras
B.S. in Industrial Engineering, Universidad Tecnológica Centroamericana | Unitec, 2002, Honduras

Awards & Honors

2021 | Clark Coan Award for International Student Leadership

2015 | Fulbright Faculty Development Scholarship

Memberships

2022 | Graduate Career Consortium