Bar Foundation appoints new executive director

Jessica Fiske Bailey was appointed executive director of the Foundation of the State Bar last month. Bailey, who is pursuing a master's degree in public administration from the University of Southern California, has more than 20 years of experience in management, program development, community relations and fundraising, as well as longstanding relationships with members and staff of the bench and bar in California.

She most recently worked for the Administrative Office of the Courts, where she worked with the Judicial Council and its executive and planning committee.

Bailey's immediate priority will be to encourage more voluntary contributions to the foundation, which supports public education initiatives, such as the State Bar's Seniors and the Law and Kids and the Law publications, and scholarships for law students who do volunteer work for legal services programs.

She also will work to increase the number of corporate sponsors, who now include Affinity Financial Corp., Chase Manhattan Mortgage, Ameri-can Bank, UPS and West.

"The foundation is committed to supporting education for children and adults about the law and the legal system and increasing access to the law for those for whom access is limited," said president Herb Rosenthal.

Bailey replaces James Pfeiffer, the foundation's executive director since its inception in 1990, who retired.