Lara Jessen

Lara Jessen, Ph.D., is currently the Lead Quantitative UX Researcher at Target, a role they began in 2024. Previously, Lara held various academic positions at the University of Minnesota, including Graduate Research Assistant and Project Coordinator on a significant grant aimed at improving college retention for underrepresented students. Additionally, Lara served as an instructor and research assistant, completing their Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from the same institution in 2017. With substantial experience in analyzing both quantitative and qualitative data, Lara has also contributed to the field through consulting roles, including as a Market Research and Insights Consultant Manager at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota.