Jessica L. Johnson joined ICA as Visitor Services Coordinator in 2017. Prior to joining ICA, Johnson worked at the Philadelphia Museum of Art as a Visitor Services Assistant and as an Exhibition Coordinator for the 2016 International Pop exhibition. In summer 2015, she worked with Philadelphia Theatre of the Oppressed as a facilitator for the Playgrounds for Useful Knowledge project led by the Mural Arts Program and Cohabitation Strategies. Before returning to her native Philadelphia, Johnson lived abroad in Istanbul, teaching English at Dragoman Academy, One World Language Academy, and Uskudar University, where she also served as Education Assistant to the General Director of the ESLI English Prep Year Program.

She graduated from Columbia University with a BA in comparative ethnic studies in 2011. At Columbia, Johnson was the president of the Black Theatre Ensemble, also performing in several productions, and facilitated discussions on power, privilege and identity as a ROOTED (Respecting Ourselves and Others Through Education) facilitator. Additionally, she published poetry in several university publications, including The Black Columbian, Surgam, Barnard’s Echoes Literary Magazine and The Proxy Magazine. Johnson received the King’s Crown Leadership Award and Office of Multicultural Affairs Graduation Cord for her engagement with social justice and community building at Columbia and beyond.