Jessica Kapp, Ph.D
Jess Kapp is a geologist, educator, and writer. She teaches geology at the University of Arizona, where she is an Associate Professor of Practice and the Director of Undergraduate Studies in the department of geosciences. An accidental scientist, Jess found geology as an English major at Syracuse University, where a required introductory course sparked her curiosity for science. It ultimately took her to Tibet, where several months spent living in a tent at over 15,000 feet taught her a bit about geology and a lot about what she was capable of.
Today, her passions are teaching science to non-science majors, and encouraging more women to take a chance on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math). She has written a book about her journey to becoming a woman scientist, which she hopes to publish soon. She will launch her podcast “Plucky Ladies: An exploration of female curiosity, perseverance, and feats of excellence” in October 2018. She hopes that by sharing her story as well as those of other women she might encourage young women to take risks, step out of their comfort zones, and discover who they are meant to be.
In the unlikely event that she gets some free time, you can find her cheering one son at his soccer games, playing ukulele with the other, or watching stand-up comedy specials with her geologist husband.