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Jessica F. Love, Ph.D.

Dr. Love is a native of Camden, Mississippi and is an assistant professor of Integrated Marketing Communication in the Department of Journalism and Media Studies at Jackson State University (JSU). She also serves as the education marketing manager for international tech giant, Logitech. Her entire professional and academic formation has been about using digital media, strategic communication, and cultural research as social justice tools to advance minority education funding initiatives.

Her passion for educational advocacy developed as a global Black College Fund ambassador at Mississippi’s most historic Black college, Rust College, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication in 2015. Since then, she has committed her life’s work to advancing equitable access for marginalized groups in the academy and in digital media spaces. After departing Rust College, Love earned a Master of Science degree in Integrated Marketing Communication from the University of Mississippi in 2017 and a doctoral degree in Mass Communication from the University of Southern Mississippi in 2021.

The activist scholar’s research centers critical and cultural media studies about the representation of Black Americans. Prior to her appointment as assistant professor at Jackson State University, Dr. Love instructed courses at The University of Southern Mississippi and Rust College.

Dr. Love’s committed fight to address marginalized education communities is best demonstrated by her more than seven years of global industry experience working as a marketing communication practitioner for the United Methodist Church General Board of Higher Education and Ministry. She worked to amplify minority funding initiatives like The Black College Fund, The Hispanic Pipeline Initiative, and The Women of Color Scholarship.

Prior to her appointment at JSU, Love served as the program coordinator for the McNair Scholars Program at the University of Southern Mississippi, where worked to increase the number of PhDs amongst minority students in graduate education.

Outside of the academy, Love serves in the Mississippi Air Force National Guard. With more than 11 years of experience, the technical sergeant works as a command support specialist to deliver tactical communication. In 2021, she received the Army Commendation Medal for her COVID-19 mission support.

Love’s ultimate mission is to expand educational access and opportunity for minority students in higher education. In 2017 and 2018, she received United Negro College Fund (UNCF) awards for scholarship advocacy. That same year, Dr. Love received Rust College’s Trailblazer Award for her promotional efforts to advance the Black College Fund.

Jessica.f.love@jsums.edu