Jessica Lawmaster, PEPS Executive Director

Jessica Lawmaster

Jessica began her career in Oklahoma as a child Forensic Interviewer in criminal child abuse cases. Over a ten year period, Jessica interviewed more than 700 child victims of abuse, and it was listening to these stories that compelled her to study trauma through a broader lens. In 2008, Jessica was hired by Haven House to develop three new Children’s Advocacy Centers in the Kenai Peninsula region of Alaska. Developing child abuse response systems under the umbrella of Haven House, a domestic violence and sexual assault organization, provided Jessica with an optimal environment for continuing to connect the dots of the intersections of different types of challenges experienced by individuals, families, and communities. In 2012, Jessica was hired as the Executive Director of Haven House, a capacity in which she served for four years prior to relocating to Seattle.

Jessica is passionate about investing in building resilience in individuals, families, and communities. As a parent of young children, she has experienced firsthand the need for support in parenting and believes wholeheartedly in the social connections and community that PEPS fosters for families. She believes that PEPS is not only making a difference in the lives of families, but is making neighborhoods and communities across the state healthier and more resilient.

Outside of PEPS: Jessica loves to travel and explore the outdoors with her husband, three children, and two dogs.

Education: Jessica earned a bachelor’s degree in Social Work at the University of Oklahoma (OU) and then continued on at OU to earn a Master’s of Social Work, focused on community planning and administration.

Contact: jessical [at] peps [dot] org / 206-547-8570 ext. 210

Learn more about other PEPS staff members.