Jess Harris focuses on the intersection of education, community, and arts. A native of the Charlottesville area, Jess holds a Master’s in Educational Psychology from the University of Virginia, where she also earned an Interdisciplinary B.A in arts nonprofit management & education. She is currently pursuing a doctorate of education focused on out-of-school learning from the University of Pittsburgh. Her role at the Center for Community Partnerships is focused on supporting the Community Research team with community-embedded research and community projects. She has been published in arts journal Arts Praxis, the American Alliance of Museums, and other publications. Jessica is also the founder and Artistic Director of Empowered Players, a local arts education nonprofit dedicated to uplifting the human spirit through access to arts education. 

Research

Jess's research focuses on community-embedded projects and utilizes various methods. She focuses on co-creation and co-design with partners whenever possible in research projects, and utilizes qualitative, participatory, and mixed-methods approaches to uplift community perspectives. Her work aims to elevate and foster long-term, trust-based relationships with communities. 

Education

• M.Ed. 2020 – University of Virginia, Educational Psychology Applied Developmental Science
• B.A. 2019 – University of Virginia, Echols Interdisciplinary Degree