Director of Operations & Engagement
Society of Environmental Journalists
Jingyao is a multidisciplinary nonprofit leader with experience across journalism, public health, and community philanthropy. As the Director of Operations & Engagement at SEJ, Jingyao helps shape internal operations for long-term sustainability, supporting the board in translating vision into meaningful, equity-centered impact for SEJ’s members. Previously, she served as Senior Program Manager at Resolve Philly, where she led initiatives that uplifted community narratives and built trust with underserved Philadelphians. She has led training on community engagement for news organizations, including the American Press Institute and the Solutions Journalism Network, emphasizing inclusive, trust-building approaches to collaboration. As former President of AAJA Philadelphia, Jingyao prioritized responsive programming and community building with other JGroups and local AAPI communities, earning the chapter AAJA’s 2023 Chapter Leadership of the Year award.
Before entering journalism, she managed programs at immigrant-serving nonprofits specializing in healthcare access, domestic violence, and senior care for Philadelphia’s immigrant and refugee communities. She currently serves as Co-Chair of the Asian Mosaic Fund, an AAPI giving circle that uses participatory grantmaking to move resources to small, AAPI-led and -serving organizations.
A transplant from Nebraska, she made Philadelphia home while pursuing her Master of Public Health at Drexel University.
Friday, September 12, 2025
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM CDT
Finding Our Ground: A Climate Café for Journalists Covering the Crisis
Friday, September 12, 2025
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM CDT