Jessica Bernards is an award-winning educator, curriculum author, and keynote speaker who now brings her expertise to both education and business.
In education, she leads faculty development, professional workshops, and creates innovative curriculum that makes content more accessible, engaging, and relevant for today’s learners.
In business, she delivers training and consulting that strengthen leadership, communication, and efficiency. Her workshops - ranging from skills for leaders to AI-driven strategies for streamlining workflows - are practical, interactive, and results-focused.
Across every setting, her mission is the same: to empower people with the skills, confidence, and strategies to thrive. She wants to help people work with AI, not against it, by combining technology with empathy, purpose, and practical strategies that make work and learning more human, not less.
At the core of Jessica’s philosophy is the belief that anyone can effectively leverage modern tools, including AI, with the right guidance.
In educational settings, she champions active learning, growth mindset, and fostering a strong sense of belonging in the classroom. Her approach emphasizes helping students understand not just the how but also the why behind every concept.
In her consulting and corporate work, Jessica applies these same principles to leadership and organizational growth. She believes that with clear training and supportive frameworks, teams across all industries can strengthen communication, adaptability, and decision-making while learning to integrate new technologies responsibly.
This approach bridges theory and practice, ensuring both students and professionals build the technical skills, confidence, and mindset needed to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
Achievements and Curriculum
Jessica’s innovative methods and dedication to participant success has earned her numerous accolades including multiple teaching excellence awards and the NISOD excellence award. As a leader in education, Jessica serves as the Northwest Vice President of the American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges (AMATYC). She has keynoted national and international conferences, sharing her expertise on AI literacy, leadership, and human-centered innovation.
She currently teaches at the University of Oregon and Portland Community College (including the workforce development sector), where she continues to blend education, technology, and leadership development to help adults become thriving digital citizens.
Jessica’s impact extends beyond the classroom. She is a prolific curriculum consultant and author, having co-authored several published mathematics textbooks and developed an open educational resource (OER) math study skills series, underscoring her commitment to accessible and effective mathematics education.
Her recent curriculum initiatives also extend into business and leadership, where she’s designed workbooks for leaders focused on communication, decision-making, and ethical AI integration to optimize businesses.
Together, these projects reflect Jessica’s ability to design practical, engaging, and forward-thinking learning materials that empower both students and professionals to succeed.