Jessica Hirshorn

My mission is to promote intercultural understanding and communication between the world's peoples. I have taught at Arizona State University for over twenty years and received the Outstanding Teaching Award in the College of Integrative Sciences and Arts during the 2020-2021 school year.

I am the author of the intercultural training simulation "Rocket: A Simulation on Intercultural Teamwork." The simulation is based on my research conducted at NASA's Johnson Space Center, and examines the intercultural interactions in the International Space Station Program. In addition, in partnership with EI Games, I developed an online intercultural game called "Space Quest: A Cultural Awareness Game," which won the 2022 Serious Play Silver Award in the higher education category.

My doctorate is in Educational Foundations with an emphasis in Multicultural Education and Sociology of Education from the University of Houston. I also hold a master's degree in International and Intercultural Management from the SIT Graduate Institute and a bachelor's degree from Coe College in Asian Studies and Religion.

My international experience is substantial. I was a Fulbright Scholar in Warsaw, Poland, where I taught at the University of Warsaw and assisted with Ukrainian refugee efforts. I have led study abroad programs in New Zealand, Ireland, the Dominican Republic, China, and the United Kingdom. Additionally, I co-founded OLLI Corps with Osher Lifelong Learning and co-led their inaugural program in Belize, and I will be co-leading their upcoming program in Thailand. I am a former Peace Corps Volunteer, having served on the island of Pohnpei in the Federated States of Micronesia. As a student I studied abroad in China, India, and Israel.

I enjoy sharing the intercultural insights that I gained through my international experiences with my students and working towards my mission of promoting intercultural understanding and communication between the world's peoples.