Artist Biography
Jessie O’Neil will be graduating this May with a Bachelor’s Degree in Interior Architecture. Outside of the classroom, Jessie is a Peer Tutor, Secretary of the Architecture and Design Club, and a Student Member of the International Interior Designer Association. She also works as a Project Designer and Administrative Assistant at a local architectural firm.
Jessie spends her free time exploring the natural and built environments to compile inspiration for her design projects. Her interests in psychology connect to her passion for design through environmental psychology which connects theories with design practices. She is also interested in branding and efficient space planning, which have inspired her to pursue a career in corporate and educational interior design. Jessie has cystic fibrosis, a genetic disease that affects the lungs and the rest of the pulmonary system. For her senior thesis, she has focused her attention on other college students with cystic fibrosis who often have to take medical leaves of absence or leave school due to infections or difficulty transitioning. Benebreathe focuses on offering a space to aid in the transition for these college students with cystic fibrosis who are seeking to earn a degree and pursue their passions.
Contact:
Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicaoneil23/
Portfolio: https://issuu.com/jessicaoneildesign/docs/jessicao_neilportfolio
Thesis Abstract
Cystic fibrosis is an incurable genetic disease that causes damage to the lungs and pulmonary system due to its effect on the cells that produce mucus and sweat. As medical treatments for cystic fibrosis improve, people with this genetic lung disease are living longer lives and therefore need support in chasing their passions such as pursuing higher education. A long-term care center that can offer medical services for pulmonary exacerbations, multi-disciplinary therapies for psycho-social health, and academic and social work support would assist students with cystic fibrosis in earning a college degree.