Department of English

 

Jessica Seessel is a teacher because she believes in the transformative power of reading and writing. 
 
Jessica has a Ph.D. in literature from Stanford University and a B.A. in English with a concentration in Women’s Studies from Dartmouth College. Before coming to Westchester Community College, she taught at Mercy and Manhattanville Colleges, Stanford University, and the International High School at LaGuardia Community College. Her teaching interests include developmental writing, composition, immigrant literature, Caribbean literature, African-American literature, feminism and women’s literature.
 
Jessica’s research and writing focuses on issues of pedagogy. Her most recent paper describes her experience piloting a Caribbean Literature course at Yeshiva College. She hopes to expand this paper after piloting a similar course at WCC.
 
Jessica lives in Dobbs Ferry with her husband, Rich Larson, and her two children Sam and Maeve.  She is one of the founders and current President of SPRING Community Partners, a not-for-profit organization in Dobbs Ferry whose goal is to insure that all Dobbs Ferry public school students – regardless of economic need – receive what they need to succeed in both curricular and extra-curricular activities