Biography
Jess Huang (sometimes credited as Celeste Pewter) is the communications manager for a national US non-profit, and a former communications staffer/speechwriter with over a decade of experience in politics. She’s also a graduate student in Global Security Studies at Johns Hopkins University, where she studies the intersection of politics and national security.
Her writing has been featured in CNN, Teen Vogue, Curbed, Thrillist and Marie Claire. Her Halloween essay for Thrillist was submitted for the Beard Award in 2019, and her Teen Vogue essay on Vincent Chin and CNN op-ed were both shared widely as the Stop AAPI Hate Movement gained prominence.
In 2022, Jess was a semi-finalist for the Presidential Management Fellowship. Huang’s first book, The Story of Tsien Hsue-Shen, the Scientist who Took Two Countries into Space, will be released from Bloomsbury in 2026.
Articles, Publications, and Appearances
Elected leaders need to see through ‘model minority’ myth – CNN, March 24th, 2021
Decorating my apartment with some help from Jane Austen – Curbed, February 21, 2020
The Chinese New Year Dumplings That Gave Me Hope for Our Future – Thrillist, January 15, 2020
My Grandfather’s Halloween Treat Changed Our Block Forever – Thrillist, October 11th, 2019
If Asian Voter Turnout in the Midterm Elections Is Strong, Everything Could Change – MARIE CLAIRE, November 2nd, 2018
From Trump’s Big Lie to Repressive State Laws, National Politics Are Still in Disarray, Teen Vogue, July 2nd, 2021
Vincent Chin’s Death Changed Asian American History — and My Family, Teen Vogue, May 3rd, 2021
The Death Penalty in the United States, Explained – TEEN VOGUE, May 3rd, 2018
What to Know about the NRA – TEEN VOGUE, March 23rd, 2018
Cape Town Could Run Out of Water – TEEN VOGUE, March 13th, 2018
How to Tell if a Bill is Serious with 5 Tips – TEEN VOGUE, March 9th 2018
Senate Races to Watch in 2018 – TEEN VOGUE, February 8th, 2018
Key Legislation to Watch in 2018 – TEEN VOGUE, January 30th, 2018
What You Need To Know about the New Medicaid Work Requirements – TEEN VOGUE, January 22nd, 2018
5 Ways to Push Back Against the Tax Reform Bill – TEEN VOGUE, December 5th, 2017
How to End America’s Gun Problem – TEEN VOGUE, November 20th, 2017
How to Determine If Your Elected Officials Are Doing a Good Job – TEEN VOGUE, November 3rd, 2017
Robert Aaron Long, the Atlanta-area shootings and the way white men look at Asian American women – The Independent
The Marie Kondo Books Debate Has Classist & Racist Undertones That Can’t Be Ignored – Bustle
Your Bad Take About Marie Kondo and Books Does Not Give Me Joy – The Mary Sue, January 17th, 2019
We’re Sorry, Your Senator Cannot Be Reached at This Time – The Outline, August 9th, 2018
What You Can Do to Fight Brett Kavanaugh’s Appointment to the Supreme Court – The Cut, July 10th, 2018
Who is the Joan Didion of Our Time? – WBUR, April 5th, 2018
NET NEUTRALITY: WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP ‘SAVE THE INTERNET’ AND OPPOSE THE FCC RULING – The Independent, December 5th, 2017