Jessica Kehinde Ngo

Jessica Kehinde Ngo is an Associate Professor in the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Otis College of Art and Design, teaching writing, food memoir, and food media courses since Fall 2009. Her work bridges creative nonfiction with food studies, focusing on cultural identity through personal narrative and food symbolism.

Her academic credentials include:

• Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Creative Writing from Pepperdine University
• Master of Professional Writing (MPW) in Creative Nonfiction from University of Southern California (USC)

Ngo's research examines food as a cultural anchor, particularly plantain in Nigerian diaspora contexts, alongside twinship, intercultural/interracial relationships, and grief processing. She employs memoir to dissect identity formation through culinary practices, emphasizing how food rituals connect generations and navigate loss. Her approach combines literary craft with anthropological insight into daily food experiences.

Recent publications (2020-2024) reveal consistent thematic focus: plantain as heritage symbol, food justice in BIPOC communities, and pandemic-era shifts in food media. She frequently publishes in Epicurious, TASTE, and James Beard Foundation outlets, blending personal narrative with cultural critique across 15+ venues including The New York Times and Harvard Review Online.

Notable honors include:

• Legacy Network Advisee, James Beard Foundation (2022-2023)
• Food Writing Award Winner, International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP, 2023)
• Teaching Excellence Award, Otis College of Art and Design (2017)

Ngo mentors undergraduate students in creative writing and food media while securing significant internal research funding. Her grant history demonstrates sustained scholarly engagement:

• Otis Faculty Development Grants (Spring 2018, Spring 2019, Spring 2023)
• Otis Assessment, Research, and Scholarship (OARS) Grants (Fall 2015, Fall 2017)