More and more women are making waves in the world of professional golf, and MMI Preparatory School graduate Jessica McClellan is one of them.

Five years ago, Jessica was at a crossroads when the pandemic hit while she was in her second year of studying Professional Golf Management at Pennsylvania State University. With in-person classes and her summer internship in Scotland canceled, she migrated to the Pacific Northwest to intern at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort—a renowned, picturesque resort situated on the rugged Oregon coast that boasts six links frequently ranked within the top 100 golf courses in the country. During this time, she did everything from assisting the staff with running major championships to working as a caddie supervisor, and from updating guests on course conditions to overseeing merchandising at the Bandon Dunes Golf Shop. It turned out to be a boon for the young golfer. After completing her internships, she was taken on at Bandon Dunes as an Assistant Golf Professional.

In the last two years alone, Jessica has achieved two major feats. First, she obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Management, with a minor in Sports Studies, from Pennsylvania State University’s College of Health and Human Development. She was also inducted into the Professional Golf Association of America (PGA). More recently, Jessica—who served as a tournament director and co-merchandiser at Penn State—was promoted to the First Woman Head PGA Golf Professional at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort. She was also one of 15 PGA associates to be accepted to the PGA’s Lead Program, which strives to recognize and guide PGA members from diverse backgrounds. And as if all that isn’t impressive enough, she also served as the director at the 2024 Golf Digest Woman Classic Tournament.

When Jessica isn’t on the course or managing tasks at one of Bandon Dunes Golf Resort’s shops, she’s out and about within her Oregon community volunteering as the Head Girls’ Golf Coach at Bandon High School. There, she shares her love of the game and in-depth knowledge with curious youngsters, truly exemplifying the concept of paying it forward.

Her career may only just be getting started, but given her dedication, hard work, and passion, we know the sky is the limit for Jessica!