Jesse Cecil

Jesse serves as the Grants and Research Coordinator, advancing the land-grant mission of West Virginia University by overseeing and providing centralized external funding development and administration for the Smith OEDC and its community partners. His responsibilities include grant proposal development, award management, training workshops, and impact reporting.

A passionate conservationist and outdoor recreation enthusiast, Jesse is a native of West Virginia and the Appalachian Mountains. He believes deeply in the intrinsic value of our natural heritage and the critical importance of protecting land and water resources. His vision includes fostering a culture of strategic conservation and prioritizing sustainable, renewable economic drivers. Jesse envisions a vibrant future for West Virginia, where its mountains, forests, and streams are protected, respected, and sustainably utilized for outdoor economic and community development, ultimately enhancing quality of life, public health, and employment opportunities.

Before joining OEDC, Jesse spent seven years as the Operations Manager for the West Virginia Land Trust, a statewide conservation non-profit. There, he developed a strategic and responsive management approach, overseeing operations, financial and budgetary processes, and collaborative support for the organization’s mission to conserve essential land and water resources. With expertise in recreation development project management, Jesse has provided decisive leadership, helping to envision, cultivate, and develop recreational opportunities and key partnerships as Project Lead for the Piney Creek Preserve in Beckley and Co-Lead for the Mammoth Preserve in Kanawha County.

Jesse is a dedicated husband, father of two spirited girls, and an avid mountain biker. He serves on the board of directors for two community non-profits: as a founding member and Secretary of the Morgantown Area Mountain Bike Alliance (MAMBA), the local IMBA chapter, and as Treasurer for the property management board of the historic Rogers House in Morgantown, WV.

He began his studies at West Virginia University in 2003, earning a B.S. in Wildlife Management and later pursuing an M.S. in Journalism, with a thesis examining the use of balance and framing in magazine coverage of climate change.