Jessan, founder|owner|ceo of Jessan Dunn Otis|Independent Writer, earned degrees from Brown University (MFA) and the University of Rhode Island. Soon after graduation from Brown, Jessan's work was published in Nimrod, International Journal of Fiction & Poetry. Subsequently, her work has been published in the MIRROR, a publication of the University of Rhode Island; CQ (California Quarterly); An Anniversary Collection 1984-1988, Pawtucket (RI) Arts Council; The Newport Review (Newport, RI); Rhode Island Women Speak: An Anthology of Authors and Artists and other publications.

A collaboration with George Houston Bass, Director, Rites & Reasons Theatre, Brown University, included responsibilities as the writer/coordinator for the play Malacoff Blue and a commissioned piece titled: "Meditations on the Contents of the Rabbit's Hold." There are several other privately commissioned pieces in Jessan's portfolio.

Jessan has presented readings of her work at the Rhode Island School of Design (Providence, RI); Villa Serbelloni (Bellagio, Italy); Poetry Break (Providence, RI); Writer's Harvest, Bryant University (Smithfield, RI); RI chapter of the National Museum of Women in the Arts; and additional venues.

Jessan was the Script Supervisor for the film Frailejon, with Joshua Yeldham, that was awarded: Best Feature Film, Heartland Film Festival (Indianapolis, IN); Best Australian Short Feature, Australian Film Critics Award; EMMY, Best Student Drama, Academy of Television Arts & Sciences; and, nominated for an OSCAR, Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences.

Prior to founding JDO|IW in May, 1996, Jessan was an Adjunct Professor at Bryant University and the Community College of Rhode Island, teaching creative writing, the essay and the contemporary novel.
 
Additional awards and honors include: Phi Beta Kappa; Phi Kappa Phi; Pablo Neruda Prize for Poetry; Pawtucket Arts Council Annual Poetry Competition; California State Poetry Competition; Gwendolyn Brooks Prize for Poetry.

Jessan has been a Visiting Artist/Guest Lecturer at: The Cambridge School (Weston, MA); Providence College, Department of Political Science (Providence, RI); Rhode Island School of Design, Freshman Foundation (Providence, RI); Carrabelle Public Library (Carrabelle, FL)and The Writer's Workshop, Apache Junction, AZ.

Born in Glen Cove, Long Island, New York, Jessan is the daughter of Mahlon and Helen Dunn. She is the mother of two sons, Alessandro and Cesare, from a previous marriage. Mostly raised and educated in the Northeast (US); Jessan has traveled extensively, most recently returning to Rhode Island from a two-year journey across America with her husband, Al, and their Shelty, Sassy (RIP|August 5, 2008), in their motorhome, "Rain Dancer."