Emily Casarona

Emily Casarona is the Chief of Staff at The Jensen Project where she oversees day-to-day business management and communications, streamlines workflow, and designs and executes organizational policies and practices to optimize efficiency and productivity. She is responsible for identifying opportunities for organizational and programmatic growth while leading, coaching and managing the team as they plan and execute projects together. A skilled professional with over 25 years of diverse experience in community outreach, program management, strategic planning, research, marketing and event planning, Emily supports the organization’s innovative approach to developing community-based solutions with a sustainable impact for survivors of sexual violence and human trafficking.

Prior to joining The Jensen Project, Emily spent the bulk of her career in public service through initiatives supporting education, the military, and its veterans. In her role as Program Manager and Policy Advisor in the Military Service Initiative at the George W. Bush Institute in Dallas, Texas, she supported service members, veterans, and their families in the areas of jobs, mental health, and education.

During her tenure at the Bush Institute, Emily oversaw the Team 43 Sports and Alumni Program, a personal and professional development program for veterans that assists their transition from military to civilian life. In this role, she coordinated and executed large scale events and activities, managed budgets, implemented leadership programs, and acted as liaison between veterans and community stakeholders. As the traveling media correspondent for the Salute Our Troops summer tour in 2013, Emily visited 87 cities in 75 days throughout the Southeast United States to recognize military personnel and their families, helping to raise over $2.5M for military support organizations, including the USO and the Fisher House Foundation.

Emily held a variety of executive-level positions at the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, D.C. including Senior Communications Director, Secretary’s (Acting) Regional Representative, and Deputy Director of Corporate Outreach where she developed outreach campaigns, executed communication strategies, and planned national events in all 50 states to highlight the Education Department’s American Stars of Teaching program. She also worked for the American Society for Training and Development in its Policy and Public Leadership Department, focusing on higher education and workforce development issues. In further service to the community, Emily became an experienced presidential and congressional campaign worker, serving on five campaigns as a volunteer and staffer and on election days as a pole worker and watcher. In 2009, Emily launched her own public relations company, Tri-Side Consulting, representing non-profits, professional athletes, authors, entrepreneurs, and motivational speakers in multiple projects ranging from foundation and charitable activities to business development and promotional strategies.

Emily earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Kansas State University and her Certificate in Project Management from Southern Methodist University. Outside of her role and responsibilities at The Jensen Project, she serves as an active board member of Attitudes and Attire in Dallas and recently launched her own women’s apparel company, The Club Collar. Throughout her substantial career experiences and diverse interests, Emily has continued to find her calling by promoting individual courage, commitment, and resilience, and believes in the infinite potential of any individual to prevail through faith, hope and love.