Jess Conard, M.A., CCC-SLP is an environmental advocate and licensed speech-language pathologist with a robust background in public speaking, particularly in the realms of plastic pollution and public health. Jess has been a public speaker and educator for many years. Her environmental advocacy journey began in response to the February 2023 train derailment and chemical spill in East Palestine, Ohio, her hometown. This event propelled her into high-profile grassroots activism, where she became a prominent voice for environmental and public health concerns.

 

In August of 2023, Jess was recruited to serve as the first Appalachia Director at Beyond Plastics, where she leads and supports local and regional campaigns to promote safe solutions to plastic waste. Jess also leads a national campaign to ban vinyl chloride where she works in solidarity with chemically impacted community members across the county. 

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Beyond her role at Beyond Plastics, Jess collaborates with a wide network of legal experts, medical professionals, scientists and activists from around the globe to support communities affected by plastic pollution and chemical disasters. Jess frequently gives talks to audiences that range from community groups and college students to state and federal legislators, medical professionals and academic scientists.
 

Jess is determined to educate the world on the power of local voices, the dangers of plastics and how we can safeguard against environmental disasters. She serves on the Community Advisory Board for The University of Kentucky’s health tracking study and as a Community and Tribal Liaison for The National Academies of Science Engineering and Medicine (NASEM). In March 2025, Jess was selected for a fellowship opportunity with Halt the Harm Network to do specific work in social movements. She was a recipient of a research scholarship at Cleveland State University, received her Masters degree in Speech Language Pathology from Kent State University and her BA in Speech Sciences from The Ohio State University. Jess is a displaced resident of East Palestine, Ohio and now lives with her family in Youngstown, Ohio.