She received her PhD from Columbia University, and currently practices in juvenile detention in New York City. Dr. Jess has danced her whole life, but began pole dancing while living in Los Angeles at BeSpun in 2011. Upon moving back to NYC in 2012, she started dancing at Body & Pole. Along with Tracee Kafer, she is the co-creator of Pole Speak. She is in the process of becoming a Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner, which is a body-oriented, trauma-focused healing modality. She completed her 200-hour yoga teacher training at the WOOM Center in NYC, which combined elements of sound meditation with Vinyasa yoga, and is also Reiki Level 2 attuned.