As Palm Beach Atlantic University celebrates the 100th birthday of its visionary founder, Dr. Jess Moody, his legacy lives on in a new generation of servant-leaders—none more fitting than his granddaughter, Jessica Moody Bruce, who now serves as president of the Alumni Board.
August 19, 2025, marked what would have been Dr. Moody’s 100th birthday. His bold vision in 1968 gave rise to a university built on Christ-first values, academic excellence, and a heart for service. More than five decades later, that vision is embodied in the thousands of alumni living out their callings around the world.
In January 2026, Bruce took office as the new president of the Alumni Association. Bruce earned her Master of Business Administration at PBA and has worked in real estate management as well as founding her own production company, Moody Media. She joined the association several years ago as a board member and has served as vice president since 2024, as well as several other PBA committees.
Her connection to the University stems from the stories she heard about her grandfather, Dr. Jess Moody. “He could be talking to the janitor or the president of the United States—it didn’t matter who you were—he made every person feel special,” Bruce reflects. “He was genuinely interested in and loved others. He loved PBA and was truly dedicated to the mission of forming a Christ-first university.”
As she assumes the position of board chair, Bruce wants to help ensure the community her grandfather founded is stronger and more Christ-focused, building a robust network of Sailfish. Even now, the board is brainstorming ways to bring current and past students, faculty, and the community closer together than ever.
Bruce encourages recent graduates to not overstress about having their life’s purpose figured out—but to lean on God for His guidance. She has seen how alumni stand out in the workforce. When she managed a real estate brokerage, she looked to the association to find well-rounded, Christ-centered applicants. Bruce theorizes that many alums garner strong professional and personal skills through the University’s educational, Workship, and chapel experiences.
“My position on the board would not be possible without the support of our awesome Alumni Association,” Bruce expresses, adding that alumni are encouraged to apply to join the board. “It’s a wonderful group of hard-working people who are doing their best to serve the school. It doesn’t matter if you only took night classes for your graduate degree or if you were fully involved as an undergrad. We want former students who have a servant’s heart who love PBA.”