Jessica R. Chittum

Professional Development Fellow

Jessica Chittum was born in Maryland although she spent the bulk of her life in St. Petersburg, Florida. She holds a B.S. in Elementary Education and a M.A. in Exceptional Student Education from the University of South Florida. Jessica recently relocated to Blacksburg to begin work on a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology. Prior to her move to VT, Jessica worked with students with special needs. She has taught middle school at a center for students diagnosed with Severe Emotional Disturbances and Educable Mental Handicaps, and for the last four years, 5th grade inclusion at a Florida public school.

Inspired by undergraduate general and educational psychology courses, Jessica set her direction and focus as a teacher. After five years working with a diverse student population, her curiosity was heightened to the extent that she decided to pursue a graduate degree in educational psychology. As an educator, and now as a Ph.D. candidate, her research interests follow the path of motivational theory as a means of building strong classroom communities and tapping each student's particular learning style.

Jessica began with CIDER in 2011. Her duties center on the International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education as well as the International Journal of ePortfolios.

In her spare time she is typically found pouring over a book, spending entirely too much money on live music, tinkering with the piano, traveling, or staying active outdoors. She is looking forward to exploring the mountains as she did the coastal/marine environment as a Floridian.

111 Hillcrest Hall (0453), Blacksburg, VA 24061
(540) 231-6823  |  cider@vt.edu