Writer • Performer • educator
Jessica Laskey
In addition to writing and performing, I've held a variety of other positions. Below you'll find a snapshot of my CV.
To request more information, please contact me here.
EDUCATION
University of California, Berkeley
Bachelor’s Degree in English, Minor in Theater
EMPLOYMENT
January 2021 - Special Sections Editor, Comstock's Magazine
(ongoing) Plan, schedule, write and edit monthly sponsored sections with clients including regional trade groups, nonprofits, educational institutions and more.
May 2007 - Freelance Writer, Sacramento, Sactown and Comstock’s Magazines
(ongoing) Write profiles and articles on the arts, home design, real estate, tech, COVID-19, business trends and food.
June 2007 - Monthly Column Writer, Inside Sacramento
(ongoing) Write monthly arts column, city columns, calendar and freelance profiles.
August 2019 - Program Manager, Arts & Letters Live, Dallas Museum of Art
November 2019 Plan, schedule and host fall season of Arts & Letters Live, a literary and performing arts series that features award-winning authors and performers of
regional, national and international acclaim, including Salman Rushdie, Margaret Atwood, Tim O'Brien and more.
September 2009 - Standardized Patient and Trainer, UC Davis Medical Center School of Medicine
August 2019 Perform mock cases with medical students, provide feedback and work with faculty to remediate students; also train cases and monitor SPs.
Jan - May 2019 Instructor, Drama Therapy, Rio Valley Charter School
Lead group drama classes based in movement, voice and empathy.
November 2018 Writer and On-Air Talent, Rancho Cordova Travel & Tourism
Write script for domestic and international (France) advertising spots, perform as on-air talent for domestic spot.
June 2015 Editorial Contributor, Inside Sacramento Book, Ed. 1 & 2
Write editorial content for both editions of Inside Sacramento: The Most Interesting Neighborhood Places in America’s Farm-to-Fork Capital.
September 2014 - Theater Instructor, Lycée Paul Claudel
May 2015 Teach practical theater class in English to children ages 11-14 at private middle/high school in Paris (France).
August 2012 - Leadership Giving Officer, KVIE Public Television
April 2014 Provide major donor relations and cultivation for the northern California PBS affiliate station (Salesforce database); write and execute grants;
plan literacy workshops for thousands of low-income families; on-air and voiceover talent.
September 2011 - Program Coordinator, ArtWise
March 2012 Coordinate afterschool art classes in regional elementary schools; develop curriculum and teach hands-on drawing classes for students, grades K-6;
data tracking with THRIVA Management and Tracking Services, Quickbooks.
June 2010 ESL Instructor, NACEL American Village
English-language instruction for native French-speaking students, ages 9-14, in summer camp setting in the Pyrenees Mountains (France).
December 2009 - College Prep Tutor, San Juan Unified School District
June 2010 Small-group instruction for a total of 50 students, grades 9-12, in multiple subjects (e.g. English, Spanish, French, algebra, business, history).
February 2009 - Membership Assistant, Sacramento Zoological Society
June 2010 Provide customer service support to 10,000+ member database; data entry (Raiser’s Edge); marketing; event planning.
July 2007- Education Associate/Resident Playwright, Sacramento Theatre Company
January 2009 Assist education staff with STC-2 School of the Arts, Sacramento Theatre Company’s young professionals program. Write and present pre-performance
prologue series; write and design collateral material; direct youth literacy program and productions; write educational productions; coordinate schedules and
production tours; teach master classes.
June - August 2006 Editorial Intern, Sacramento Magazine
Write feature articles and profiles; research and fact-check stories; create back-issue index system.
June - August 2005 Instructor, Sacramento Zoological Society
Teach Zoo Camp classes for children ages 5-12; create class syllabi and conduct animal encounters.
September 2003 - Editorial Assistant, Goldman Communications, Inc.
September 2011 Perform a variety of duties for Sacramento Business Journal Top 25 public relations/marketing firm (family-owned),
including editorial assistance; on-air talent for television and radio commercials; musical direction.
BOARDS/PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
January 2023 - Executive Director, Stories on Stage Sacramento
(ongoing) Award-winning literary performance nonprofit based in Sacramento, CA, which hires professional actors to read short stories and novel excerpts from
established and emerging writers.
March 2020 - Casting Director, Board Member, Stories on Stage Sacramento
(ongoing) Award-winning literary performance nonprofit based in Sacramento, CA, which hires professional actors to read short stories and novel excerpts from
established and emerging writers. Also perform as an actor.
September 2018 - Board Member, Stories on Stage Davis
August 2019 Literary performance nonprofit based in Davis, CA, which hires professional actors to read short stories and novel excerpts
from established and emerging writers. Also perform as an actor.
2011 - Member, Actors’ Equity Association
(ongoing) Dues-paying member of labor union representing American actors and stage managers in the theater since 1913.
HONORS/AWARDS
2006 - Golden Key International Member
(ongoing) Membership based on university GPA.
May 2003 Washington University in St. Louis Book Award
Awarded for "academic achievement, intellectual promise, leadership and personal character."
May 2003 International Thespian Society Honor Thespian
Awarded an Honor Bar for working more than 600 hours in the theater.
SPECIAL SKILLS
Languages: Fluent in French, some Spanish
Computer: Skilled in Microsoft Office suite, design programs (Adobe, Photoshop, Publisher), database systems including Raiser’s Edge, THRIVA Management, Quickbooks, Salesforce; social media savvy