Jessie Olstad

Jessie is the Graduate Programs Coordinator for the English Department. Having recently relocated to Tucson, Jessie was previously the Admissions Coordinator for DePaul Law in Chicago, Illinois until joining the Wildcat community in September 2026. 

A self-described "forever student", Jessie has a master's in Women's Studies and Gender Studies from Loyola University Chicago and a master's in Media and Popular Culture from DePaul University. She is in the process of completing a master's in The Beatles, Heritage and Culture online through the University of Liverpool. She has experience presenting at numerous conferences, both domestic and international, for her research on the relationship between media and gender. She also has authored the thesis, "Loverboy Rules: A Transtheoretical Exploration of Andy Bernard's Failed Masculinity" and the article "Is It Really So Strange?: Homophobia, Homoeroticism, and Homopotentiality in Stranger Things' Billy Hargrove".

In her spare time, Jessie is an avid reader and filmgoer. She enjoys works by Anaïs Nin, Annie Ernaux, and Donna Tartt, among others. She enjoys traveling, spending time with her cat, and trying new coffee shops.