About
Emily Jernigan

Emily Jernigan, M.S.
Public Sector Strategy & Organizational Culture Consultant

Emily Jernigan is a seasoned public-sector leader with more than 20 years of experience designing, managing, and improving complex government and community-based programs. Her work spans state and county government, behavioral health, human services, compliance, risk management, and customer experience—often at the intersection of policy, operations, and organizational culture.

Emily has held senior leadership roles including Regional Administrator and Acting Deputy Director for the California Department of Child Support Services, where she oversaw county programs, statewide policy implementation, and multi-million dollar budgets. In these roles, she worked closely with executives, managers, and frontline teams to translate regulatory requirements into practical systems that supported performance, accountability, and employee effectiveness.

Earlier in her career, Emily served as a Program Specialist with the San Bernardino County Department of Behavioral Health in the Office of Innovations and Cultural Competence. There, she supported Mental Health Services Act innovation projects focused on community resilience, equity, trauma-informed practices, and engagement with underserved populations. This experience continues to inform her consulting approach—grounded in cultural responsiveness, ethical practice, and respect for frontline realities.

Across her career, Emily has led program planning and evaluation, compliance and risk mitigation, workforce and leadership development, stakeholder engagement, and performance improvement initiatives. She is particularly skilled at navigating high-stakes environments involving public trust, crisis response, and organizational change, and at helping organizations bring structure and clarity to complex systems.

Emily’s work is guided by the belief that employee experience and organizational culture directly affect service quality, retention, productivity, and long-term sustainability. Drawing on organizational psychology, research, and practical leadership experience, she helps organizations identify cultural patterns, strengthen internal systems, and create conditions where both employees and the communities they serve can thrive.

Emily holds a Master of Science and Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Psychology. Through Culture Crafted Consulting, she partners with public agencies, nonprofits, and mission-driven organizations to improve programs, strengthen culture, and support thoughtful, people-centered leadership.