Jessica Selleck, a Buffalo transplant, is pursuing a PhD in foreign and second language education at the University at Buffalo. After moving around for over a decade, Selleck landed in Buffalo to pursue a career as a K-12 educator in Buffalo Public Schools. Prior to starting her career in education, Selleck attended Emory University, and later pursued her master’s degree in teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL) from Minnesota State University, Mankato. Afterwards, she taught both in Turkey at Bursa Technical University, and in Khujand, Tajikistan as an English Language Fellow. When she returned to the United States, she entered Buffalo as a Teach for America Corps member, where she also pursued a second master’s in adolescent urban education at Canisius College. Since then, Selleck has been working in the Western New York community with youth as an English as a new language (ENL) teacher and foster parent.

As a PhD candidate, Selleck is interested in pursuing research on the intersections of social emotional competencies, relationships, and teacher education. Selleck currently serves as a supervisor of TESOL student teaching educators at Canisius College and will be collaborating to create mentorship programs for new and long-term teachers in Buffalo Public Schools. Selleck believes there is a link between many of the societal inequities in our community; and that through enhanced teacher education, youth will be empowered to transform our community. Selleck looks forward to completing her PhD and collaborating with local organizations to create innovative practices that will revolutionize the future of teacher education.