Jennifer Cortez is Project Director, Placements, in the Work-Based Learning Labs team. Jennifer is responsible for developing and leading our day-to-day work to support and build access to high-quality work-based learning opportunities for HERE to HERE’s high school network and CUNY students. Within this role, Jennifer provides coaching and technical assistance for schools actively developing relationships with employers and community-based organizations.

Prior to working at HERE to HERE, Jennifer was an Operations Manager for Key Collegiate Charter School, where she supported the school with virtual reopening plans during the Covid pandemic. Prior to this role, she was a Manager of Operations, Youth Career Pathways, at Per Scholas—an organization that provides infrastructure IT training. During her time at Per Scholas, Jennifer designed and launched the ‘Pathfinders’ ambassador program, which supports high school students through the Per Scholas’ technology training admissions process. Jennifer graduated from SUNY Purchase College with a bachelor of arts in Journalism and earned a master of science degree in Nonprofit Leadership from Fordham University.