About

“If you have come here to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.” – Lilla Watson

Jessika Chi’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is reflected in her years of experience advancing diversity initiatives, advocating with marginalized and underrepresented groups, and providing social justice education. She pursues this commitment because she knows diversity creates the best environment and because inclusion speaks to our highest ideals.

Skilled with curriculum design and developing high-impact workshop and trainings, she creates educational opportunities designed to equip educators and organizational leaders with the skills, tools, and pedagogical practices needed in order to be more inclusive and effective educators and leaders. She works to empower people with the skills to be change agents in creating diverse and equitable communities.

As a former first generation college student of Color herself, Chi understands the importance of creating an inclusive campus climate and currently works to develop initiatives designed to support the recruitment, transition, and retention of historically underrepresented students, staff, and faculty in higher education. She currently works at Reed College as the Assistant Dean for Institutional Diversity and works to implement systems and infrastructure to support, encourage, and promote institutional vision and strategy towards the college’s commitment to being a diverse and inclusive learning, teaching, and working environment. She collaborates with campus administrators and stakeholders to create and fulfill strategic plans for an inclusive campus environment where all community members can thrive.

Jessika Chi has served on the Oregon Women in Higher Education (OWHE) Board of Directors as the Director of Business Operations and Director of the Annual Conference. OWHE’s mission is to facilitate meaningful connection, personal growth, professional advancement, and systemic change for all Oregon women in higher education. Chi also serves on the Region 5 Advisory Board for NASPA, the professional organization for Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education.

Jessika Chi lives by her motto: “challenge the status quo in favor of wild dreams – and don’t ever settle for anything less.”

Education

Pacific University
Ph.D. in Education and Leadership (expected 2021)

University of the Pacific
M.A. in Educational Administration and Leadership
with an Emphasis on Student Affairs (2013)

Southern Methodist University
B.A. in Political Science and English (2010)