Meet Jessa Kirk, Education Specialist for the Office of Academic Integrity

Jessa Kirk joined the Academic Integrity Office (AIO) in January 2025. A Santa Cruz native, she earned her MA in Literature from Boston College before returning to the area to teach English for grades 8-12 at a local independent school. Over the past decade, she developed courses on banned books, comics, and queer voices in literature, eventually serving as Academic Dean at the same school.

"I already knew that I wanted a workplace that cared deeply about clear communication, equity, and creating a partnership between education and accountability," Jessa said. "The AIO’s added focus on students as a necessary part of restorative practices made this role ideal.”

As education specialist, Jessa is focused on developing academic integrity curricula, including an after-education course for students who have been through the reporting process with responsible findings. She’s especially excited about training and collaborating with student employees to foster engagement and advocacy.

Outside of work, Jessa loves practicing hot yoga, listening to comedy podcasts, and collecting vegetarian recipes in the New York Times Cooking app—she’s always open to recommendations in either category!