Jessica (she/her/ella) is an Associate Professor in the School of Social Work at Portland State University teaching in the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program. She additionally serves on the Executive Council for Portland State University’s AAUP as the Vice President for Grievances and Academic Freedom.

Jessica conducts practice-informed qualitative and quantitative research that centers on identifying how to best support vulnerable Latine families while illuminating within-group differences among Latine communities. A Licensed Clinical Social Worker, she leverages her extensive experience in community mental health and medical settings to inform her scholarship and practice.

Jessica’s research focuses on how families navigate complex and often punitive public systems. She examines the impact of structural inequality on familial relationships and community well-being, studying the mechanics of institutional power alongside the strategies necessary for individual and familial agency and survivance. Furthermore, she focuses on promoting family health through culturally responsive interventions and approaches that strengthen parenting practices, support parent-child relationships, and deepen the understanding of cultural and contextual factors that influence parenting beliefs.

Jessica teaches across the social work curriculum, with a particular focus on generalist social work practice (spanning groups, individuals, families, communities, and organizations); social work theory; introduction to privilege and oppression; and an elective RESR course examining the impact of colonialism in Latin America and its influence on presentd day Latine health disparities in the U.S.

Her pedagogical approach is grounded in critical race theory, social constructivism, and an anti-colonial lens, while centering liberatory and emancipatory healing practices. Jessica’s teaching and scholarship are anchored by the power of "community" as a sustainable, culturally relevant mechanism for intervention, healing, and well-being across all levels of practice.

Through her research, teaching, and service, Jessica is dedicated to advancing the field of social work by amplifying the history, politics, culture, legacies, and urgent needs of Latine communities.