Jessica J. Meharry, MFA, PhD
Associate Professor, School of Design
Jarvis College of Computing and Digital Media
DePaul University
Bio
Jessica Meharry (she/her) is a designer, researcher, facilitator, and educator who focuses on justice-oriented design methodologies in professional practice.
Jessica is currently a n Associate Professor in the School of Design at DePaul University where she teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in graphic design and human-centered design. Previously, she served as a Visiting Professor at the Institute of Design at Illinois Tech and an Associate Professor of Design Management and the Director of Academic Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Columbia College Chicago. In May of 2022, she received a PhD in Design from the Institute of Design at Illinois Tech. Under the direction of Carlos Teixeira and Laura Forlano, her dissertation topic was “Sensemaking for Power Asymmetries in Anti-Oppressive Design Practice”.
Her scholarly research focuses on three intersecting lines of inquiry that explore equitable design methodologies in both practice and pedagogy: anti-oppressive design practices for professional designers; envisioning anti-racist futures through design methods; and equity-oriented experiential education within design pedagogy and curricula.
Jessica also actively maintains an award-winning creative practice of graphic design projects, for both personal explorations and professional clients.
To get in touch, email jessica@jessicameharry.com.
Education
PhD in Design, Institute of Design at Illinois Tech, Chicago, IL, May 2022
Advisors: Carlos Teixeira, PhD and Laura Forlano, PhD
Dissertation: “Sensemaking for Power Asymmetries in Anti-Oppressive Design Practice”
MFA in Photography, Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah, GA, 2001
BS in Radio/Television/Film, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 1996
Academic Appointments
Associate Professor, DePaul University, 2025-present
School of Design, Jarvis College of Computing and Digital Media
Visiting Professor, Institute of Design at Illinois Tech, 2023-2025
Associate Professor, Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, IL, 2019-2023
Business and Entrepreneurship Department, Design Management program
Assistant Professor, Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, IL, 2013-2019
Business and Entrepreneurship Department, Design Management program
Assistant Professor, St. Norbert College, De Pere, WI, 2005-2007
Department of Art, Graphic Design and Photography program
Assistant Professor, Colby-Sawyer College, New London, NH, 2001-2005
Fine and Performing Arts Department, Graphic Design and Photography program
Academic Leadership Roles
Director of Academic DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion), Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, IL, 2022-2023
Interim Co-Director of Academic DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion), Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, IL, 2021-2022
Interim Chair, Design Department, Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, IL, 2018-2019
Vice President, Faculty Senate, Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, IL, 2015-2018
Chair, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Task Force, Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, IL, 2017-2018
Program Coordinator, Design Management, Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, IL, 2014-present