Jesse Berkhoudt is a doctoral student at New York University, focusing on leadership, organizational change, and equity in education, and is also a Social Impact Research Fellow. He serves as a Leadership and Development Professor at the U.S. Navy Senior Enlisted Academy in Newport, Rhode Island, where he works at the intersection of leadership development, faculty training, and institutional reform. With 24 years of operational service, including multiple tours in Iraq and the Black Sea, Jesse brings deep practitioner insight into how large, complex systems shape learning, decision-making, and human performance. His experience in curriculum design and senior-level education informs his research-driven approach to institutional change.

Jesse is a strong advocate for neurodivergent learners and is committed to advancing neuroinclusive and neuroaffirming educational practices particularly in adult learning. His research examines how rigid instructional norms, hidden curricula, and identity suppression contribute to disengagement and attrition in adult and professional military learning environments.