Jess is a community builder in all realms of her life and believes in supporting others in co-creating new futures. As the associate director of alumni engagement at the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC), she weaves ABCD practices into the University's Homecoming, alumni affinity groups, and as part of her work serving in shared governance. She also teaches in UMBC's Community Leadership program.
Jess received her MFA in Community Arts from the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) and remains active in the Baltimore art community and as the annual artist in residence at the New Hampshire NH Correctional Facility for Women and Men facilitating mural-making with children and incarcerated parents. Jess is also a Core Gift practitioner while also consulting and facilitating.