Jennie has more than two decades of experience working in a variety of public aquaria with specialized experience caring for jellyfish and large elasmobranchs. She is also a Research Associate at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.

She is a collaborative and innovative leader who has helped shape the future of aquarium and zoo science. As President, Co-Founder, and Managing Director of Minorities in Aquarium and Zoo Science (MIAZS), she works to diversify the people and perspectives shaping the field. She has built and led initiatives including the Kraken Curriculum, the POSea Conference, the Jelly Camp conference, and the International Census of Chondrichthyans in Human Care (Chondro Census). Her leadership extends across the profession through her service on RAW, Inc.’s inaugural Board of Directors and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) Professional Development Committee, where she served as Vice Chair.

Her influence has been recognized both within the field and across her broader community. She has twice been named to Blooloop’s 50 Zoo & Aquarium Influencers list and recognized among The Power 10, reflecting her role in advancing the profession and challenging its status quo. In Baltimore, she has been recognized as a GameChanger by Baltimore Magazine and a Baltimore Homecoming Hero for her broader community impact. Tessere’s 2025 recognition of Jennie as Emerging Professional Troublemaker of the Year further reflects a defining aspect of her leadership: a willingness to question convention, bring people together, and turn new ideas into action.