Jessica Collura

Dr. Jessica Collura is a Senior Research Associate at the Ohio Education Research Center (OERC) in the John Glenn College of Public Affairs at The Ohio State University. The OERC conducts research on policy and practice in the state of Ohio, preschool through workforce.

Dr. Collura began her career as a high school English teacher in Camden, NJ. She has experience working as a Child and Youth Program Evaluator at a nonprofit organization and as a research assistant at the Center for Nonprofits at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Prior to joining the OERC, she was a Research Associate at Ohio University and led the Ohio Adult Allies Initiative, which provided training and technical assistance to adults who facilitated youth-led prevention efforts in the state of Ohio.

Dr. Collura’s research focuses on engaging young people in local settings to promote the healthy development of youth and communities. She has published several journal articles and book chapters on the topics of youth organizing for school and community reform, youth violence prevention and positive youth development. She is also the co-author of a training manual designed for community organizations and coalitions interested in engaging young people as leaders.

Dr. Collura earned her PhD in Civil Society and Community Research from the School of Human Ecology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She also holds a master’s degree in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and English Literature from Miami University.