About

BIOGRAPHY

Jessica Bowdoin is an English professor, writer, and Autistic poet. She received her MFA from the University of New Orleans. She is working on her debut poetry collection which focuses on her experiences as a neurodivergent woman as well as the stories of other maverick women, both historical and mythological. It unveils the double consciousness that forms in response to social “othering” and redefines clinical and social language used for neurodivergent individuals.

Recently, she won the 2022 Vassar Miller Award for Poetry, was a finalist for Inverted Syntax‘s 2023 Sublingua Prize for Poetry, and received honorable mention for the 2023 Andrea Saunders Gereighty Academy of American Poets Award. Her work can be found in Beyond Queer Words, Inverted Syntax, Ocean State Review, Backchannels Journal, Ellipsis, and elsewhere.

As a lifelong educator, she has been teaching high school English classes since 2012 and a variety of college English courses since 2017 as a dual credit English professor, adjunct, and teaching associate. Her primary focus is contemporary poetry, primarily women’s poetry, and poetry written by members of various disability communities. Her literature focus outside of poetry is Early British Literature and Medieval Literature, particularly Chaucer’s dream visions, as well as the intersection of gender studies and classical mythology.

Connect with her on Instagram (jessica_bowdoin), X (@jnbowdoin), or at jessicabowdoinpoet.com.

EDUCATION

M. F. A in Creative Writing in Poetry, University of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, Summa Cum Laude (with Thesis Distinction), 2020-2023

M. Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction in Composition Theory and Curriculum for Writing and Grammar Instruction, University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, TX, 2015-2017

M. A. in Medieval Studies in English Literature, Degree unfinished due to health complication, 18 hours completed, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX, 2011-2012

B. A. in English Literature, Thesis Focus: Medieval Literature, Minor in Creative Writing: Poetry and Nonfiction, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX, 2007-2011

TEACHING CERTIFICATIONS & NON-DEGREE EDUCATION

English 6-12, Level 3, Louisiana Teaching Certification, 2022

English as a Second Language, Level 3, Louisiana Teaching Certification, 2022

“The Poet’s Way,” Creative Writing, Continuing Studies Program, Stanford University, 2020

Canvas LMS Certification for Online Instruction and Curricular Integration, 2018

Gifted and Talented Certification: 30 hrs + AP Language and Literature Training, 2015

English Language Arts and Reading 8-12, Texas Teaching Certification, 2012

English as a Second Language 8-12, Texas Supplemental Certification, 2012

TEACHING APPOINTMENTS

University of New Orleans, Adjunct Instructor of English for the First-Year Writing Program, Freshman Composition I and II, 2023

Southeastern Louisiana University & East Jefferson High School (Jefferson Parish Public Schools), Dual Enrollment Facilitator of Composition I and British Literature I, 2022-23

Houston Community College, Adjunct Professor of English, Freshman Composition I and II, 2018-2021

Dual Credit Professor, Comp. I & II, (Northside High School – Houston ISD), 2018-2021

Northside High School (Houston ISD), English Teacher, 10th & 12th grade (AP/GT), 2017-2021 Curriculum Team Leader for 10th grade English, 2018-2021, Instructional Technology Advocate during COVID, 2020-2021, Elected Faculty Senate Member, 2018-2020, Program Director of OneGoal (a college readiness program), 2017-2020

Klein High School (Klein ISD), English Teacher, 10th grade Pre-AP/GT program, 2015-2017, Curriculum and Planning Team Lead for English 2, 2015-2017, Faculty Researcher for 1:1 Technology-Based Instruction Program, 2016-2017

Carver High School (Aldine ISD), English Teacher, 9th and 10th grade + STAAR Remediation Teacher (State standardized assessment preparation), 2014-2015, Curriculum Team Lead for English 2, 2014-2015, President of the Climate Committee, focuses on positive relationship building, 2014-2015

Naaman Forest High School (Garland ISD), English Teacher of 9th and 10th grade, 2012-2014, AVID Coordinator and Liaison (AVID is a college readiness program), 2013-2014, AVID Teacher and Cohort Leader, 2012-2014

PUBLISHING & OTHER RELATED EXPERIENCE

Multidisciplinary Writing Coach, Delgado Community College, 2023-2024

Professional Assistant for the Digital Teaching and Learning Lab, Instructional Technology Specialist, University of New Orleans, 2021-2022

Reader for Poetry Competition, Tennessee Williams & New Orleans Literary Festival, 2022

Poetry Reader & Publishing Intern, Bayou Magazine, 2020-2022 & 2021-2022

Administrative Assistant, English Department, Southern Methodist University, 2011-2012

AVID Tutor, 7th-8th grade, Huntsville High School, 2010- 2011

Poetry Reader, Texas Review Press, 2010-2011

Poetry Reader and Publishing Intern, Sam Houston State Review, 2010-2011

English Composition Tutor, Project Connect/TRIO, Sam Houston State University, 2009-2010

RECENT ACADEMIC PUBLICATIONS & WRITING AWARDS

“’Desire Pinned to the Page’: A Review of Kimberly Ann Southwick’s Orchid Alpha,” Ocean State Review, Mar. 2024

Out from the Weirdish Wild, MFA Thesis, Director: Carolyn Hembree, Committee: John Gery and Kay Murphy, University of New Orleans, 2023

“9pm, A Networking Event for Young Neurotypicals,” Poem, Inverted Syntax Finalist for the 2023 Sublingua Prize for Poetry, Selected by Jesica Davis & Nawal Nader-French, 2023

“At the Holiday Inn,” Poem, 2023 Andrea Saunders Gereighty Award for Academy of American Poets, Honorable Mention, Selected by Laura Villareal, Ellipsis, Volume 49, 2023

“Holdin’ Sharpness,” Poem, 2023 Vassar Miller Award (at UNO), Honorable Mention, Selected by Carol Jennings, Ellipsis, Volume 49

“Lost Southern Night Song,” Poem, Beyond Queer Words 2023 Poetry Anthology, 2023

“For the Eleventh MRI: Breathing” and “After Four Discectomies,” Poems, 2022 Winner of the Vassar Miller Poetry Award (at UNO), Selected by Grace Bauer, Ellipsis, Vol. 47, 2022

“2020: After Six Months in Quarantine,” “When the Bird House Burns,” and “After Rejecting Four Phone Calls…,” 3 Poems, Ellipsis, Volume 47, Spring 2022

“Impregnated Conversations,” Poem, Backchannels Journal, Edition 9, Summer 2021

“Tres Historias,” Poem, Humble Pie, Volume 18, Spring 2021

“Using Thoreau to Teach Tangibly; Scaffolding Philosophy with Analogy and Natural Imagery,” Essay, Thoreau Society Bulletin, Issue 301, Fall 2018

“The Efficacy of Paperless Instruction versus Paper-based Instruction on the Retention of Application-based Grammar Skills,” Research Study/M.Ed Thesis, Klein ISD & UT Tyler, 2017

INTERVIEWS & RECENT READINGS

Recent Readings/Interviews:

Recorded Interview with Richard Siken on War of the Foxes, Hosted by the CWW for the “Writers at Work” series, University of New Orleans, 2023

“Poetry Buffet: Mona Lisa Saloy, Andrea Panzeca, Anne Babson, Jessica Bowdoin, Melinda Palacio, and Others,” Women’s National Book Association, hosted by Gina Ferrara, 2023

Collaborative Reading at Book Launch for Dear, Egg by Danny Unger, Tilted House, 2023

Gold Room, Multiple, Series hosted by CWW at the University of Orleans, 2021-2023

Maple Leaf Poetry Night, Everett Maddox Memorial Poetry & Prose Reading Series, 2021-2023

Rubber Flower Poetry Hour, Multiple, hosted by Tilted House, 2021-2023

Humble Pie’s Volume 18 Launch Party and Reading, California College of the Arts, 2021

AWARDS, AFFLIATIONS, PANELS, & PRESENTATIONS

Women’s National Book Association, New Orleans Chapter Member, 2022

Nominated Teacher of the Year, Northside High School, Houston ISD, 2020-2021

Outstanding OneGoal Program Director, 2017-2018

Award for Exemplary Research Study within Education, University of Texas at Tyler, 2017

Teacher of the Month, Naaman Forest High School, 2013

McNair Scholar and Fellow, Sam Houston State University, 2009-2012, Outstanding Scholar Award, 2011

Sixth Annual Research Conference Presentation, 2010, “Narratorial Manipulation and Emotional Response in Chaucer’s Dream Visions”

Sigma Tau Delta, English Honor Society, Sam Houston State University, 2009-2011, Public Relations Officer, 2009-2011, Award for Excellence in Writing, 2011

Project Connect, TRIO Student Support Services, Award of Excellence, as a Student Mentor, 2010-2011

TEMA XX, Texas Medieval Association, 20th Annual Conference, Presentation: “Narratorial Manipulation and Emotional Response in Chaucer’s Book of the Duchess,” Panel: Session 10, “Conflicted Chaucer,” Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX, 2010

Elliot T. Bowers Honors College, 3rd Annual SHSU Undergraduate Research Symposium, Presentation: “The Self-Conscious Narrator in Geoffrey Chaucer’s Dream Visions,” 2010

Golden Key International Honor Society Member, 2009-2011

Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities, Sam Houston State University, 2011

Outstanding Student in English, Sam Houston State University, 2011

Valedictorian, Leverett’s Chapel High School, 2007 & Associated Scholarships: Valedictorian Scholarship (2007-2011), Early Graduate Scholarship (2007-2008), J. Philip Gibbs Scholarship, 2010