Jessica Leys became the Director of the Anne Arundel County Department of Recreation and Parks on May 1, 2021. Prior to that she served as the Deputy Director for the Department since 2019. Ms. Leys received her Certified Park and Recreation Professional Certification (CPRP) on February 14, 2022.
A 24 year veteran of Anne Arundel County government, she worked in the Budget and Finance offices, most recently serving as Assistant Budget Officer before making the leap over to the "Department of Fun," as she calls it. Ms. Leys has a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Administration from Shippensburg University and a Masters of Public Administration from University of Baltimore. She was a college lacrosse player and is passionate about sports and athletics. She has coached several local school and club teams and is the mother of two outstanding youth athletes. She also enjoys hiking and other outdoor recreation activities in Anne Arundel County’s parks and natural areas.