Jen earned a dual B.A. in English and Economics from Westfield State University, an M.F.A. in Creative Nonfiction from Bennington College, an M.L.I.S. in Archives Management from Simmons University, and a certificate in Genealogical Research from Boston University. In 2018, she completed a graduate internship at Old Sturbridge Village's Research Library, where she arranged an early nineteenth century manuscript collection.

Areas of expertise: Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, North Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland.