Jessica O'Hara

Jessica O’Hara is a Teaching Professor in the Department of Communication Arts and Sciences at Pennsylvania State University. She holds a B.A. from the University of Notre Dame (1994), an M.A. from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill (1998), and a Ph.D. from the same institution (2003). Her primary research focuses on contemporary Irish and British literature, exploring themes of identity, citizenship, and post-imperial cultural dynamics. She actively contributes to undergraduate education through curriculum development and engagement initiatives.

• Education:
• B.A., University of Notre Dame, 1994
• M.A., University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, 1998
• Ph.D., University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, 2003

Dr. O’Hara co-directs and teaches Rhetoric and Civic Life, an honors course she helped develop, and has led Penn State’s Ireland Summer Study Abroad program. She advises the Penn State Irish Society and engages with the broader community through dance instruction and show choir direction at Centre Learning Community Charter School.

Her pedagogical innovations emphasize multi-modal learning and civic engagement, reflecting her commitment to enriching undergraduate experiences through interdisciplinary approaches.