Jess’ research interests focus on embodiment in reception dramaturgy, particularly in site-specific performance and performances where young people are invited to interact. As a practitioner-researcher, Jess’ artistic work as a devising dramaturg explores the relationship among process, product, and producing models in devised theater.

• 2025 (forthcoming) – “The Encounter is Enough: Site-responsive Dramaturgy and Embodied Eco-Systemic Reception in Public Green Spaces” in Routledge Focus: Ecodramaturgies, edited by Magda Romanska.

• 2018 – Embodied Cognition, Acting & Performance. Co-Editor with Dr. Experience Bryon, Dr. Mark Bishop, and Deirdre McLaughlin. Routledge.

• 2017 – Special Issue on Embodied Cognition, Acting & Performance." Connection Science, Vol. 29, Issue 1. Co-Editor with Dr. Experience Bryon, Dr. Mark Bishop, and Dr. Deirdre McLaughlin.

• 2017 – “Noise as Queer Dramaturgy: Towards a Reflexive Dramaturgy-as-Research Praxis in Devised Theatre for Young Audiences.” ArtsPraxis, Vol. 4, Issue 1.

• 2016 – “Infrasonic Tones in Theatrical Design: Transgressive Vibrations Towards an Aural Dramaturgy for All.” With Jennifer Bates, Griffyn Gilligan, and Miriam Verghese. Theatre and Performance Design, Vol. 2, Issue 3-4.

Conference Presentations and Workshops

• 2024 ASSITEJ World Congress: “Expansive Access and the Outdoors in Theater For the Very Young and their Families”. Workshop with Susanna Brock and Ana Cantorán Viramontes.

• 2024 International Theatre for Young Audiences Research Network (ITYARN) Conference: “Roulette Dramaturgy: Access-forward Reflexive Structures in Theater for Young Audiences”. Paper.

• 2024 TYA/USA Conference: “Reimagining Funding Models to Uplift Community-based Devised Works”. Panel discussion.

• 2023 TYA/USA Conference: “Expansive Access and the Outdoors in Theater For the Very Young and their Families”. Workshop with Susanna Brock and Ana Cantorán Viramontes.

• 2022 Theater and Dance for the Very Young Conference: “Nature Theater and Education for the Very Young.” Presentation with Susanna Brock and Lisa Kitchens.

• 2019 Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas Conference “Crossing Borders, Pt. 2: Action in a Time of Division”: “Beyond the Wall - binational collaboration at the US/Mexico border", Presentation.

• 2019 Prague Quadrennial of Performance Design and Space: “Transcending Boundaries and Amplifying Identity with Giant Puppets.” Results-driven workshop.

• 2019 Creative Interruptions London – A Festival of Arts and Activism (Brunel University): “Beyond the Wall: Transcending the U.S./Mexico Border Wall with Giant Puppets. Workshop.

• 2019 NYU Steinhardt Forum on Educational Theatre: “Transcending Boundaries and Amplifying Identity with Giant Puppets.” Presentation with Ana Díaz Barriga.

• 2016 NYU Steinhardt Forum on Educational Theatre: "Noise as Queer Dramaturgy: Towards a reflexive dramaturgy-as-research praxis in devised theatre for young audiences." Paper.