Jessie earned her bachelor’s degree in Applied Behavioral Science from the University of Kansas and her master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Kansas Medical Center. She is a registered yoga teacher through Yoga Alliance with a specialization in adaptive yoga and an Autism Exercise Specialist through the American College of Sports Medicine.

Jessie currently serves as a clinical research coordinator in the Division of Physical Activity and Weight Management at the University of Kansas Medical Center. In this role, she coordinates research studies focused on physical activity and nutritional interventions for individuals with intellectual disabilities. For the past six years, she has coordinated NIH-funded studies involving adults with Down syndrome, examining how physical activity and dietary outcomes impact cognitive health and overall Alzheimer’s disease risk. Her research interests center on how scaffolded skill building and self-determination can support healthy, independent living among people with intellectual disability.