Jesse McCain

Full Bio

In this role, he oversees program communications, leads student recruitment initiatives, and collaborates with stakeholders across UVA to build programming that helps students cultivate a commitment to public service in their careers and as a lifelong practice. In addition, McCain is spearheading the development of a pan-university fellows program to support the service and leadership experiences of graduate and professional students.  

McCain is also a published scholar in the fields of higher education and sociology of education. His research examines inequality in higher education, and especially how social inequalities shape student experiences in graduate and professional training. This includes work investigating faculty mentorship and relational dynamics, pathways through graduate education and career development, and the impact of first-generation background and social class in graduate school. Originally from Tucson, Arizona, McCain is a first-generation college graduate. Before coming to UVA, he spent nearly five years at the University of Arizona working in roles across student and academic affairs.

He holds a PhD in Higher Education and Sociology of Education from the University of Virginia, and MA in Higher Education and BA in Political Science, both from the University of Arizona.