Jay (Jo Ann, they/she) is an analog-obsessed visual storyteller, educator, and amateur marathon runner and Transgender. 

Community lies at the heart of their visual work, driven by a deep-seated desire to nurture compassion and forge connections within and beyond their communities.

Jay is a graduate of the International Center of Photography’s photojournalism program (New York, NewYork) where she was awarded The New York Times Foundation Scholarship and apprenticed under their mentor, the esteemed photojournalist Eugene Richards.

Jay is returning to photography and teaching after a seven-year hiatus. During that time, they transitioned to Executive Hospitality Management & Operations roles at MML Hospitality (2016-2020) and left the restaurant industry to the advertising industry to become Preacher's, inaugural Director of Hospitality & Culture, a chance for Jay to combine human-centered operations with hospitality and produce memorable experiences for the staff, clients and the community.

Currently, Jay is immersed in a phase of reigniting their passion for storytelling, producing events, crafting immersive experiences, and actively working on opening  WANDER , a trans owned, queer founded nourishing café, community darkroom, gallery and gathering space in the Berkshires! 

Having spent the last 16 years in Austin, TX, Jay now finds solace in the tranquil surroundings of Lenox, MA, nestled in the Berkshires, with their wife, seven-year-old daughter, and their furry pack.