BIO
Throughout her academic career, Jessica Wawra (Kesselring) has been drawn to the intersection of art and social justice. Her writing and research seeks to challenge social inequalities and oppressive power structures, and investigates human interactions in the public sphere. Wawra (Kesselring) began her undergraduate studies at Glendale Community College, where she was a music major and studied classical voice. She later transferred to San José State University, where she shifted her focus to an interdisciplinary humanities program, completing a major in the Creative Arts. In addition to fulfilling her major requirements, she completed Advanced Honors in Integrated Science, Social Science & the Humanities and graduated with magna cum laude, Phi Kappa Phi, and Presidential Scholar honors in 2017. Wawra (Kesselring) graduated from California Institute of the Arts in the school of Critical Studies Aesthetics & Politics M.A. graduate program after working toward a thesis project related to post-millennial phantasmagoric horror.
Jessica Wawra née Kesselring
Los Angeles, California, United States
linkedin.com/in/jessica-wawra-kesselring
OVERVIEW
Seeking a position that reformulates education, fosters dynamic discourse, and elevates underrepresented populations. Scholarship foci: affect theory, subversive media & criticism, sovereignty & subjectivity. Experience streamlining departmental processes & procedures.
EDUCATION
M.A., 2020, California Institute of the Arts, Aesthetics & Politics
B.A. (Honors), 2017, San Jose State University, Creative Arts, Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities IGETC, 2014, San Jose City College
IGETC | Applied Music Program, 2005 - 2014, Glendale Community College
LICENSES & CERTIFICATIONS
Foundations of Virtual Instruction - Coursera, 2024
Communication Strategies for a Virtual Age - Coursera, 2021 Understanding International Relations Theory - Coursera, 2021 Foundations of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion TeachOut - Coursera, 2021 ART OF THE MOOC: Public Art & Pedagogy - Coursera, 2021
EXPERIENCE
Instructor, Ready Global Academy (IPERC), Jul. 2024 - Present (Contractor)
Instruct middle and high school students in a distance learning environment using the ClassIn learning management system.
Develop course syllabi and corresponding material for high school and college-level courses for the purpose of virtual learning:
-Writing/English
-Psychology
-Art History
-Political Science/American Government
Instructor, ACES Boost, Jan. 2023 - Present (Contractor)
Create accessible and tailored preparatory writing curricula for international students entering into the U.S. college system; teach students via virtual platform in a spectrum of writing subjects:
-Freshman English
-Art & Literary Criticism
-Interdisciplinary Humanities
-Introduction to College English
Independent Tutor/Instructor, Wyzant, Sep. 2022 - Present (Contractor)
Tutor students via virtual platform, certied in multiple subjects: Art Theory, English, Film, General Music, Government & Politics, Grammar, Music Theory, Philosophy, Political Science, Reading, Social Studies, and Writing.
Owner, Kettle Ring Studio, Jan. 2022 - Present
Procure and sell vintage and antique items; manage inventory, marketing & SEO, shipping, and nances.
Instructor, Literature & Pen, Jul. 2021 - Jul. 2022 (Contractor)
Designed curriculum for learners thirteen and older for the following synchronous & asynchronous courses: -Aesthetics of Contemporary Horror Cinema
-Argumentative & Persuasive Writing: A Fundamental for College Essays, Public Speaking, & Presentations in the Workplace
-The Cinema Society
Interdisciplinary Artist, Freelance, Aug. 1998 - Present
Contributor, Dead Talk Media LLC., May 2021 - Sep. 2021 Produced horror-related content for Dead Talk News.
Artist-in-Residence, Hauser & Wirth, Apr. 2019 - Aug. 2019 Critical Studies/Curatorial residency
Graduate Research And Teaching Assistant, California Institute of the Arts, Aug. 2018 - Jun. 2019
Assisted Dr. Andrew Culp and Dr. Chandra Khan with day-to-day administrative needs; researched contemporary infrapolitical expressions (ref. James C. Scott), the role of arts & well-being (ref. Graham, Chattopadhyay, and Lakhanpal), and CalArts bridge program opportunities.
Background Artist, Central Casting, Jan. 2013 - Jun. 2018 Performed as a background actor for television & lm.
Learning Center Certied Music Tutor, Glendale Community College, Jul. 2013 - Jul. 2014
Tutored music fundamentals, ear training, musicianship, harmony, and piano to students enrolled in music courses.
Substitute Section Leader, Glendale Community College, Aug. 2010 - Jun. 2014
Chorister | Soloist, Glendale Community College, Aug. 2005 - Jun. 2014
Performed classical, contemporary, and holiday pieces for solo and ensemble voice; performed partial operatic roles 2011-2014.
Chorister | Substitute Section Leader, The First Presbyterian Church Of Monrovia, Aug. 2005 - Jun. 2011
Milton Young Choral Assistantship | Alto Section Leader | Treasurer, Glendale Community College, Aug. 2007 - Jul. 2010 Assisted Music Department choral directors in an administrative capacity; managed choral library; organized and facilitated sectionals and attendance of alto choristers; supervised choral section leaders; managed choral costume and music folder database; coordinated peripheral choral activities and annual ChoralFest logistics; served as point-of-contact for local high schools.
Instructor's Aide, Glendale Community College, Jan. 2006 - Jun. 2010
Provided in-class and administrative assistance to a blind English 101 & 102 instructor; supervised student peer group tutoring and work sessions; assessed basic grammar, spelling, and structural issues in students’ written work ahead of telephone grading sessions; proctored in-class examinations; implemented alternative teaching methods for ESL-track students.
Senior Project Coordinator | Senior Administrative Assistant, Washington Mutual Bank, 2002 - 2005
Provided administrative and project assistance to Washington Mutual Consumer Bank Operations project groups; managed and trained new hires and contingent sta; coordinated community volunteer engagement; organized personnel-related activities; managed inbound and outbound invoices.
Processing Specialist | HR Strategic Stang Specialist (iCard Project), Washington Mutual Bank, 2001 - 2002 Trained and supervised iCard project group and quality assurance project teams; conducted quality assurance and produced statistics during paper-to-electronic signature database migration; designed and deployed Committed Active Neighbor! volunteer campaigns.
Senior Account Executive | Senior Personal Financial Representative, Washington Mutual Bank, 1998 - 2001
Trained new hires and contingent sta; originated and processed consumer bank & lending products; issued Notary Public services; provided face-to-face and telephone customer service.
Guest Express Concierge, Crowne Plaza Five Seasons Hotel, Feb. 1998 - Aug. 1998
Developed and established an inter-departmental guest relations program; trained and mentored new employees; worked with a multi-line phone system; assisted guests with food and beverage purchases.
Telephone Sales Representative, APAC Teleservices, Inc., Apr. 1997 - Oct. 1997
Marketed products and services to targeted potential and existing customers; entered consumer data; trained and mentored new employees.
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
“Book Release: Guerilla Guide to Refusal, by Andrew Culp,” with C Bain, William Lockwood, Julia Saenz Lorduy, and Zeno, April 2022
California Institute of the Arts School of Critical Studies
“Phantasmagoria Nova: Meta-Friction and Apocalypse in/of Post-Millennial Horror Cinema,” September 25, 2020
West Hollywood Aesthetics & Politics Lecture Series (WHAP!) | California Institute of the Arts School of Critical Studies
“Phantasmagoria Nova”: Live Reading, May 28, 2020
CalArts Thursday Nights | Madeline Falcone, curator | California Institute of the Arts
“Micro-Modes: Resistance of/through the Everyday,” April 24, 2020 (Co-organizer)
China: Theory, Practice, Embodiment, Extension | California Institute of the Arts Aesthetics & Politics Program
ESSAYS & OTHER SCHOLARLY WRITING
2021 “Tokenizing Disability in Horror: [Mis]representations of disability in horror cinema ... How horror cinema gets disability right (and wrong)”
Dead Talk News
2021 “Post-Millennial Cult Horror: Exploiting the Cult in Horror”
Dead Talk News
2020 “Phantasmagoria Nova: Meta-Friction, Upheaval, and Apocalypse in/of Post-Millennial Cinematic Horror” (Thesis)
Issue 1: SECRETS
Issue 2A: UNSETTLING
Issue 2B: UNSETTLING
Issue 2B | Peripheral Matter
Newsletter 2b: Consensus vs. Conict
Micro-Issue 2B: Community to Tension: Exploring Alternative Politics
Issue 3: “Special Edition”: Beyond Material Commodity: Phantasmagoric Periphery in the Mid-20th Century Issue 4: Post-Millennial Horror | Edge
Issue 5: Post-Millennial Horror | Apocalypse
California Institute of the Arts
2019 “Exploring Alternative Politics in the New Millennium”
Open Assembly: Experiments in Aesthetics & Politics
2019 “Political Dreamscapes”
Desire Lines: Aesthetics & Politics 2018-20 (Anthology) (44-47)
2017 “Challenging Hegemony in the Digital Game-verse: Why We Need Feminist Intersectional Criticism”— Senior Capstone
San José State University
2016 “Religion & AIDS in the American Social Sphere: Exploring Intersections & Inequities”— Honors Research in the Sciences
San José State University
2015 “A Closer Look at the Everyday Self: Feminism Expressions in the Art of Marina Abramović”
San José State University
2015 “Historical Ideologies: The Context of Art and Culture & The Dynamism of Online Art Exhibitions”
San José State University
PROJECTS
2019 Extensions of Horror — Hauser & Wirth Los Angeles Curatorial/Critical Studies Residency
Created an exhibition that investigates the intersection(s) between horror cinema and political upheaval in the new millennium.
2017 “Interior Scroll, integrated media re-performance” — Creative Capstone Thesis, San José State University Engaged practice-based research methodologies (PaR) and argued the necessity of feminist intersectional criticism in the gameverse to counter disproportionate masculinity, white privilege, and inherent physical & virtual violence; re-performed Carolee Schneemann’s Interior Scroll (1975).
2016 “Representation, Identity, and Violence in Digital Games” — Independent Studies, San José State University This two-part video analysis of Pokémon Go [Niantic, 2016] explores augmented reality, physical reality, and the friction often associated with an individual’s obligation and care of the ‘self’ in both dimensions. The critique of this game considers: Does a player’s experience change based on gender, class, location, et cetera? How? Is there a narrative, character(s), interaction(s), et cetera?
2015 No Vacancy — Producer
Produced Campus MovieFest documentary that highlights the effects of gentrification in Downtown San José, CA.
2010 Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Glendale College Art Walk and Summer Music Festival — Producer
Curated weekly talent and organized logistics for Glendale Community College-adjacent summer arts and music festival.
HONORS & AWARDS
California Institute of the Arts 2018-2020 Lillian Disney Scholarship, Teaching Assistantship
Hauser & Wirth 2019 Critical Studies & Curatorial Residency
San José State University 2015-2017 The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi
President's Scholar
Magna cum laude Honors
Honors Convocation Featured Stories Recipient
Advanced Honors in Integrated Science, Social Science, & Humanities
Campus Finalist, Elfenworks Campus MovieFest Social Justice Category Submission - Elfenworks
Glendale Community College 2005-2014 Dean's Honors
Shirley Wagner Memorial Scholarship
Deaf Education Scholarship
Robert D. & Robert W. Butcher Scholarship
Helen C. Nern Memorial Music Scholarship
Milton Young Memorial Choral Assistantship
Associate Students of Glendale Community College Scholarship
Music Association of California Community Colleges (MACCC) choral representative
SKILLS
Writing • CriticalTheory • Arts&Humanities• SocialSciences • InterdisciplinaryStudies • AcademicWriting • ContemporaryArtCriticism • Nonprofit Organizations • SalesManagement • EventPlanning • Research • Politics • Cinema • Quality Assurance • Project Coordination • Curriculum Design