Jessica O’Connor (she/hers) is the Consortium’s Public History Director. She is a Cheyenne, Wyoming native. A graduate of Winston-Salem State University and University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Jessica holds a B.A. in History and M.A. Museum Studies. She also holds certificates in Inclusive Leadership, Project Management, and Cultural Heritage Preservation. Prior to joining the Consortium team in 2022, Jessica directed research and interpretation activities at museums managed by the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. Her academic work focuses on the rematriation and re-centering of Black History in the Deep South through the intersection of perceived gender and class. As a public historian, Jessica specializes in curating accessibility-driven, person-first, digital history projects.