jessa gillespie

hi, I’m jessa gillespie! I’m an engineer and creative technologist. I specialize in real-time systems and graphics programming, and frequently collaborate with other artists, educators, and non-profits to create software tools and interactive media.

education

Date	Description	Place
2022-2025	Master of Science in Computer Science with Distinction	DePaul University, Chicago
2013-2018	Bachelor of Fine Arts with Distinction	University of Alberta, Edmonton

professional experience

Date	Description	Place
2019-2024	Software Engineer & Graphics Developer for Stephanie Dinkins Studio Not the Only One, a custom AI-driven avatar built in Unity Secret Garden, a web-based interactive oral history project	Brooklyn, New York
2017 - Present	Software Engineer for mere human studio Front-end developer for Walter Gordon's interactive digital edition of Shirley Graham's play, "Dust to Earth", 2021 Front-end developer for Latitude 53 opens in a new tab & Megan Gnanisihamany's online exhibition, "After the End", 2021 Front-end developer for the Intersections of Gender Researcher Directory at the University of Alberta, 2021 VR developer for the Mapa de Cuauhtinchan project in collaboration with Davíd Carrasco opens in a new tab, Laana Carrasco, and Stewart Bird opens in a new tab, 2019 VR developer for Brad Necyk Studio opens in a new tab, 2017-2019 Game developer on "The Lost Garden opens in a new tab" with Scott Smallwood and Nicolás Arnáez, 2017-2019	Berkeley, California
2018-2020	Graphic Designer for Bar Laika by e-flux opens in a new tab	Brooklyn, New York
2017-2018	Gallery Assistant for dc3 Art Projects opens in a new tab	Edmonton, Alberta
2016	Intern for Neue Galerie Berlin opens in a new tab	Berlin, Germany

professional development

Date	Description	Place
2018	Guest lecturer at the University of Alberta opens in a new tab Art and/in the Anthropocene, taught by Natalie Loveless	Edmonton, Alberta
2016-2018	Member of the Research-Creation and Social Justice CoLab opens in a new tab led by Natalie Loveless	Edmonton, Alberta
2017	Member of the Interactives Group at the University of Alberta opens in a new tab led by Scott Smallwood and Geoffrey Rockwell	Edmonton, Alberta
2013-2017	Founding chairperson of the Young Edmonton Grants program through the Edmonton Community Foundation opens in a new tab	Edmonton, Alberta
2015-2017	Vice President External of the Visual Arts Students’ Association, Social Events Coordinator of the Visual Arts Students’ Association	Edmonton, Alberta
2014-2017	Editorial board of the Women's and Gender Studies Undergraduate Journal, Spaces Between opens in a new tab	Edmonton, Alberta
2015-2016	Graphic designer & executive member of the Feminists at the University of Alberta opens in a new tab	Edmonton, Alberta

curation

Date	Description	Place
2020	Community Presentation Series opens in a new tab An experimental lecture series held upstairs at the historic Ear Inn	New York City, New York
2018	material™ opens in a new tab An exhibition co-curated with Daniel Walker at Latitude 53 opens in a new tab	Edmonton, Alberta
2017	Self Disclosures opens in a new tab An exhibition co-curated with Daria Nordell that took place at The Works Art & Design Festival opens in a new tab, with works by 19 international artists	Edmonton, Alberta

scholarships & awards

Date	Description	Place
2022	MS Pathways to Computing Scholarship, DePaul University	DePaul University
2018	Edmonton Arts Council Artist Project Grant
2017	Nominee for the BMO 1st National Art! Competition
2016	Roger S. Smith Research Award	University of Alberta
2016	Natalka Horeczko Scholarship in Painting and Print Design	University of Alberta

Resume

education

professional experience

professional development

curation

scholarships & awards