About
Bringing Representation to Your Eyes and Hearts
Born and raised in Youngstown, Ohio, (a city you’ve never heard of unless you’re from Ohio) by her mother, Jackie is a Midwesterner through and through. Her love of storytelling dates back to the days of her religiously watching TGIF with her mom.
Unsure of how to pursue a career in writing, Jackie entered The Ohio State University as a pre-med major. But quickly realized that she hated Organic Chemistry and switched her major to Spanish. After undergrad, she attended the University of Cincinnati where she earned a MA in Spanish Literature, an MEd in Curriculum and Instruction and BA in Journalism with a minor in English.
After several years as a Spanish teacher, Jackie decided to make the leap and pursue a career as a TV writer.
Now an LA based 1hr dramedy/drama writer, Jackie’s writing focuses primarily on female-driven stories that explore family dynamics, female friendship, and the idea of being a fish out of water. Her Blackish TV spec “Downsizing” was a semifinalist for The Breakk Screenwriting Competition in 2018. Jackie got her start in the industry as a set production assistant on season 5 of Grimm. She went on to work as an office production assistant on The Catch and a line producer’s assistant on For The People. Before getting staffed, she supported the writers’ rooms of The Fix, Siren, Ginny & Georgia and Broke. She was a staff writer on Disney +’s Turner & Hooch and recently wrapped as a story editor on the CW’s 4400.
When she’s not writing or reading, Jackie competes as an amateur pole dancer, travels with her husband, and spends time with their two dogs: Chancho and Zena.
Jackie Decembly Penn 