2026 Commencement Speaker: Jessica Dobney

Graduating with highest honors, Jessica Dobney is a full-time Criminal Justice student, a contributor to the Vanguard student newspaper, a Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society member, a student delegate and alternate for several committees on CCP’s Student Government Association and works a full-time job at McDonald’s. She is also an intern for the City of Philadelphia’s Office of Emergency Management, in partnership with the College's City College for Municipal Employment program. In the little free time she has, Jessica volunteers with CCP, at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and with Drexel University, assisting with Narcan research. Jessica’s involvement has made her a known name and face on campus and this year, she is proud to be selected as the student speaker at CCP’s 60^th Commencement ceremony.

Jessica was born and raised in Jamaica before moving to the United States with her father and brother at the age of 16. Once settled in at Overbrook High School in West Philadelphia, Jessica hit the ground running, getting involved in all kinds of work, projects and clubs. But one of the most impactful experiences she had was when she was 12 years old, still living in Jamaica. “One summer I got invited to...join this mediation group,” Jessica said. “They would provide student leaders with mediation training, that way when they return on campus for the upcoming semester, they'll be able to provide conflict resolution to students that are misbehaving or just trying to fight.” It was this training that made Jessica realize she wanted to work in a field that allowed her to debate and converse with others on important matters. “I started researching what careers this has,” she said. “I noticed that I liked...debating, so I kind of looked toward those careers, and I realized that I have an interest in becoming a corporate lawyer.”

In her internship with the City, Jessica focuses mainly on finance and administration. “I review...resources that have been purchased for emergency use while putting them into equipment, [asking] staff to keep track of all the budgets and stuff,” she said. It’s these fiscal and administrative tasks that have solidified Jessica’s interest in corporate law.

After graduation, Jessica plans to transfer to a four-year institution such as Drexel University or Temple University to study Criminal Justice, then pursue law school. She has received Drexel University's Promise Scholarship and a merit scholarship from Temple University for her next educational steps. She was also one of the first students to receive the most worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania and Jones Foundation scholarships, both of which will assist her in her next academic endeavor.

Jessica is proud to be able to represent the student body during Commencement. “I felt like being the student commencement speaker, it's just time for me to show them all my hard work and how CCP has enabled me to do all this hard work. So, it is just a rewarding moment for me.” Jessica is also proud to be a CCP graduate. “Everywhere I go, I let them know, ‘Hey, I'm from CCP,’” she said.