About the Series
The “Meet the Board” series highlights the dedicated leaders behind the National WIC Association. Each spotlight offers a glimpse into the journeys, passions, and perspectives of our Board members, showcasing the people who help guide our mission to support and strengthen WIC across the country.
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Jessica Eyles, WIC Director for Penobscot and Piscataquis Counties, Bangor Public Health and Community Services| Local Agency Section Representative
With 17 years of experience in WIC, Jessica is committed to strengthening families and advancing WIC's mission. Her journey began at the local level, where she witnessed the meaningful relationships WIC built with parents and children, driving her desire to expand her impact. That passion led her to get involved with NWA committees, joining the Northeast Region group and the Local Agency Section Standing Committee, where she discovered a love for policy and advocacy. Now serving as the Local Agency Section Representative on the NWA Board for the first time, Jessica is eager to elevate regional voices, champion innovation, and ensure WIC remains visible, supported, and evolving to meet families’ needs.
In the Q&A below, Jessica reflects on their experience in WIC, their goals for the board, and why they’re passionate about the program's future.
Tell us about your journey to the National WIC Association Board. How did you get involved, and what inspired you to engage?
My WIC journey started years ago when I saw firsthand the incredible support WIC gives to families. What really stuck with me was how it goes beyond nutrition. It’s about building meaningful relationships and being there for parents and kids during some of their most important milestones.
I first connected with the National WIC Association (NWA) as a member and quickly became curious about the bigger picture, how policies and systems impact what we can do at the local level. During my time working with other local agency directors in Maine, one director’s dedication to NWA really stood out and inspired me to deepen my own involvement.
That led me to the Northeast Region group, and eventually to the Local Agency Section Standing Committee. That’s when I really started getting into the policy and advocacy side of WIC and realized just how passionate I am about the work NWA does to support and strengthen WIC across the country. I sat as a proxy at one of the NWA Board meetings last year and was inspired by the NWA team and the work that they do. I knew then that our priorities aligned. This year will be my first year serving as a National WIC Association Board Member.
What’s a goal or initiative you're particularly excited about this year?
I'm especially excited about working within our regions and section standing committees to bring unique perspectives to the board. I am also excited about the modernization and innovation initiatives.
What impact do you hope the National WIC Association will have in the next five years?
I'd love to see NWA continue to be a strong voice in policy and advocacy, really making sure WIC stays visible, supported, and evolving to meet families’ needs. I also hope to see continued involvement, especially from local agencies. When more of us are engaged and connected, we’re able to learn from each other and make an even bigger impact together. It’s that mix of strong national leadership and active local voices that I think will continue to move WIC forward in powerful ways.
Coming out of the recent NWA Board meeting, what inspired or energized you most, and how do you hope to carry that momentum into the year ahead?
What inspired me most coming out of the recent NWA Board meeting was seeing the strong engagement and commitment from everyone. Despite the challenges we all continue to face, it was great to see how the board and staff remained focused. Hearing diverse perspectives from across different regions and backgrounds was especially motivating. Moving into the year ahead, I hope to carry that momentum by staying actively involved.
What’s a fun fact most people don’t know about you?
My camera roll is filled with shots of beaches, mountaintops, landscapes, and sunsets. I love exploring and collecting memories.
Want to learn more about Jessica and the rest of the Board?
Explore the full Board of Directors at nwica.org/board and see how members like Jessica are helping shape the future of WIC.
We thank Jessica for participating in this series and for her ongoing contributions to the WIC community. Visit our website to learn more about the board, and visit our blog to find other “Meet the Board” blog posts. To connect with Jessika and learn more about her background and experience, feel free to reach out to her in the NWA Online Community.