Jessica is a Professor in the College of Information and the Director of the Information Studies PhD program. She also serves as an ADVANCE Professor for the College of Information.
Jessica's research evaluates the privacy and ethical implications of new technologies that collect data in our homes, schools, and workplaces. She seeks to understand how privacy concerns play a role in technology adoption and use, and she develops tools and resources to help children and adults make more informed decisions when using technology and sharing sensitive data. Jessica is also a long-time member of the prestigious UMD Human-Computer Interaction Lab (HCIL).
What are you currently reading outside of your work?
I recently finished the fifth book in Brandon Sanderson's epic fantasy series, "The Stormlight Archive," which comes in at an impressive 1344 pages. I am continually amazed at how much Sanderson can write, given most of my academic papers would fit into a handful of his books."
Can you share something interesting about yourself?
My family has a single holiday tradition: each December we make cookies to give away. But what always amazes people is the scale at which we do this: in 2024, we made nearly 4000 cookies over three days, 32 different varieties, all with a single oven. Every year since 2012, I've brought in a large box for my fellow iSchool faculty and staff, and every year I love bringing joy and happiness to my colleagues through food.