Jessica Mongeon

Jessica Mongeon serves as Associate Professor of Art and Foundations Coordinator within the Department of Art, College of Arts and Humanities at Arkansas Tech University. She maintains active teaching responsibilities while developing an interdisciplinary artistic practice connecting human neuroanatomy with natural systems.

Her educational background includes:

• BA from University of North Dakota
• BFA from University of North Dakota
• MFA from Montana State University

Professor Mongeon's research centers on fractal patterns manifesting across biological scales—from human neurons to lichen structures and river networks. Through acrylic paintings created during nine years of exploring Arkansas public lands, she visually demonstrates the interconnectedness of human anatomy and natural forms. Her work emphasizes emotional responses to landscapes, particularly winter hikes where lichen and tree structures become visible without summer foliage, translating these experiences into abstract color compositions that argue for ecological interdependence. The upcoming 'Vital Signs' exhibition at Baum Gallery (August 25-October 3, 2025) represents the culmination of this artistic investigation into nature's fragility and vitality.

As an educator, she teaches foundational and advanced courses including Introduction to Drawing, Painting Studio I-III, and specialized offerings like Pen and Ink Drawing. Her role as Foundations Coordinator indicates leadership in curriculum development for beginning art students, while her artistic practice provides students with a model of interdisciplinary research bridging art, environmental science, and neuroscience. The 'Mind Forest Project' serves as both an artistic series and conceptual framework for understanding self-similarity in biological systems.