For Jessi Hardesty, a 2011 studio art graduate the road to success has been anything but conventional. A passionate artist, a dedicated educator, and an avid adventurer, Hardesty’s career trajectory is as dynamic and multifaceted as her interests. Originally from rural northern Maryland she journeyed to the art studios of Salem State, and now, to the halls of academia as a full-time professor.
Hardesty’s draw to Salem State was shaped by her desire for an authentic and slightly eerie college experience. “I wanted to live somewhere spooky!” she recalls. “My parents offered to help me with tuition if I went to a state school, but they didn't specify which state” Hardesty joked. After a campus tour with her father, she was hooked on Salem. “I fell in love with the area,” Hardesty remembers, a sentiment that would define her time at Salem State.
Her decision to major in Studio Art was not a surprise—art had always called to her. As the president of the National Art Honor Society in high school, Hardesty was no stranger to artistic expression. But it was at Salem State, under the guidance of professors like Haig Demarjian and Benjamin Gross, that she found her true artistic voice. Initially undecided in her concentration, Hardesty discovered a deep passion for printmaking after taking a few foundational courses, including a monoprint class with Gross. From there, she was hooked, focusing her studies on relief printmaking, which remains a key element of her creative practice today.
After graduating in 2011, Hardesty took a gap year, working as a barista in downtown Salem while continuing her artistic practice. It was during this time that she began to realize the importance of networking and building relationships. “Some of my best networking honestly occurred off-campus,” Hardesty reflects, noting that her connections with art faculty, fellow students, and even coffee customers played a pivotal role in her career development.
In 2014, Hardesty completed her Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Print Media from a prestigious graduate program in Michigan. The following years were challenging. As an adjunct faculty member at several institutions and working a full-time industry job, she faced the financial strain and mental fatigue that many recent graduates experience. “2011-2015 was a pretty difficult time period for me,” she admits. “But those two jobs helped me to get the one I have now, so I wouldn’t change any bit of my path. The struggles lead to successes if you can persevere.”
In 2015, Hardesty secured a full-time faculty position, and her career in higher education began to flourish. Today, she is not only a full-time professor teaching Relief Printmaking and Drawing but also a mentor, continuing the legacy of guidance and inspiration that Demarjian and Gross had provided her.
When reflecting on her experiences as a student, Hardesty emphasizes the importance of making art and building connections. “Art is a winding path, and it requires tenacity, flexibility, and putting yourself out there,” she advises prospective students. “Be your own hype-person, be your own networker, start your own party.” For Hardesty, success is as much about determination and self-advocacy as it is about raw talent.
One of the most significant moments in her own career preparation came from working as Haig Demarjian’s assistant in the Winfisky Gallery during her time at Salem State. This experience provided invaluable hands-on learning that she now incorporates into her own teaching.
When asked what advice she would give to students considering a similar path, Hardesty is direct: “Study what you want to study; NOT what your mom, or uncle, or whoever else thinks you should study.” She stresses the importance of pursuing a field that ignites passion, rather than chasing external validation or financial security. “If you get a degree in a field that you aren’t passionate about, you are setting yourself up for misery and regret, regardless of the size of your paycheck.”
As Hardesty reflects on her career, she is excited about the future. She is currently in the midst of a promotion project from Associate to Full Professor, a milestone she looks forward to achieving. In addition to her professorial duties, she is also a curator and the Chair of Arts & Humanities at her college.
Beyond her academic aspirations, Hardesty has also developed a unique passion for caving. She is an active member of three caving grottos, including the Philadelphia Grotto, and finds the underground world to be a source of both physical and mental stimulation. “There is really nothing that compares to the experience of exploring the underground,” she says, describing the sensory and athletic challenges of caving as deeply rewarding.
For Hardesty, the key to success has always been the people and communities she’s built along the way. “College is what you make of it; give it your best and start building your network as soon as you can,” she advises. Whether through the friendships she forged playing Super Smash Bros. in the dorms or her professional connections made over a cup of coffee, Hardesty’s story is a reminder of the power of community, both in art and in life.