About Us
Moxie is a vibrant ecosystem designed for academics to ethically and responsibly harness the potential of AI. We provide access to specialized AI tools, live coaching sessions, ongoing professional development, and premier AI models tailored for academic use cases.
At Moxie, we're not just passionate about AI - we have years of combined experience coaching scholars on improving their research writing. Our founders have worked closely with graduate students across disciplines to help them effectively convey complex ideas, structure rigorous arguments, and produce compelling academic manuscripts.
Before we began developing generative AI tools, we built careers understanding exactly where students and professionals struggle with writing and publishing. We didn't just study writing - we practiced it through our own journeys. Our extensive experience as educators, researchers, and coaches has allowed us to leverage powerful AI by drawing on our proven techniques for tackling writer's block, organizing thoughts, and crafting academic arguments. The personalized feedback and suggestions integrate the same guidance we used to deliver one-on-one to empower students.
Moxie’s technology enhances rather than replaces human insight. Our compassion as former writing mentors informs the design of every AI tool. We are driven by the mission to pass on hard-won knowledge that helps all scholars showcase their best work with confidence. We still actively publish and present research - and we face the same writing challenges as our users. This motivates us to continuously improve how AI can augment academic writing in an ethical, equitable way for all.
Jessica L. Parker, Ed.D.
Co-Founder & CEO
Health Sciences Educator and Interdisciplinary Researcher
Jessica is an educator, researcher, and entrepreneur. She is the Owner & Founder of Dissertation by Design, Co-Founder of the Moxie, and a Lecturer in the Doctor of Healthcare Administration program at MCPHS University. Jessica's research interests are at the intersection of technology and education. She is particularly intrigued by the potential of generative AI for academic purposes, exploring how this technology can revolutionize the way we conduct research, teach, and learn. Beyond her professional pursuits, Jessica is committed to helping young women and girls achieve educational excellence through reading and writing. When she's not working, you can find her at the beach, immersed in a good book, hiking, or catching waves. Click here to view Jessica’s research on ResearchGate.
Kimberly Becker, Ph.D.
Co-Founder & COO
Applied Linguist Specializing in Disciplinary Academic Writing
Kimberly is an applied linguist who specializes in disciplinary academic writing and English for research publication purposes. She has a Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics and Technology (Iowa State University, 2022) and an M.A. in Teaching English as a Second Language (Northern Arizona University, 2004). Kimberly’s research and teaching experience as a professor and communication consultant has equipped her to support native and non-native English speakers in written, oral, visual, and electronic communication. She has taught at the high school, community college, and university levels. Her most recent publications are related to the use of ethical AI for academic research and writing and a co-authored e-book titled Preparing to Publish, about composing academic research manuscripts. In her spare time, she enjoys practicing yoga, gardening, and walking with her two poodles. Click here to view Kimberly’s research on ResearchGate.
Alex Restrepo
Marketing and Public Relations Director
Alex is a marketer, project manager, and writer. Over the past ten years, Alex has developed a versatile skill set through diverse roles in tech/entertainment, marketing, and media spaces, having worked with various businesses, from single entrepreneurs and lean startups to a top ad agency working on Fortune 500 accounts. She’s done a little of everything, including coordinating large-scale experiential marketing campaigns, managing cross-country logistics, strategic communication, and crafting content for digital platforms. Alex is skilled at copywriting and brand strategy, leveraging her multifaceted background to meet diverse needs. Having engaged in marketing and creative projects for various sectors, including music, film, and professional gaming, she now finds her specialty is thinking 12 steps ahead to minimize friction and maximize successful outcomes. When she’s not working, you can find her organizing to advance human rights for all, DJing for local independent radio, or kicking a soccer ball around.
Gabriel Perez
Senior Software Engineer
Gabriel is a Full-Stack Engineer and a Tech Entrepreneur. He has been the driving force behind several innovative startups, including Caproni, a podcast publishing platform he founded and scaled single-handedly. As a Fractional CTO, he has left a significant mark on Cityrow, a NYC-based fitness startup that raised over $12M and achieved a successful exit, and Abacrop, an agritech startup where he applied his technical acumen to propel agricultural innovation. In addition, Gabriel runs Peer Feedback, an ed-tech startup embraced by Georgia Tech since 2015, demonstrating his ability to deliver impactful educational technology solutions. Gabriel holds a master’s degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a bachelor’s from the University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez. Beyond technology and entrepreneurship, he invests time in learning languages, maintaining fitness, and exploring nature, reflecting his well-rounded approach to both life and work.
Desi Richter, Ph.D.
Research Director
Desi Richter is an academic professional, professor, writer, and dissertation coach. She holds a doctorate in curriculum and instruction from the University of New Orleans. Desi is particularly interested in the creative application of AI toward equity in academic settings. She integrates a wealth of curricular design experience with writing pedagogy and dissertation coaching to help match learners with the AI tools that will empower them. Her academic expertise includes dissertation proposal writing, alignment, literature review writing, organization, and qualitative and arts-based research designs. Desi’s curriculum expertise cuts a wide swath through various disciplines, including teacher preparation, healthcare, and the arts. She is a versatile researcher and writer with technical, research, and nonfiction work. Her memoir, The Presence of Absence, will be published in October 2024. In her free time, you can find Desi playing and composing music with a band in New Orleans or having deep thoughts with her near-grown kids who are way smarter than her.
Linda Lopez-George, Ed.D.
Community Strategist
Linda López-George is a higher education scholar-practitioner, online learning advocate, and civic leader. She has a Doctorate of Education (St. Edward's University, 2023) and a Master of Arts (The University of Texas at Austin, 1982). Throughout her career, Linda has demonstrated a deep understanding of the needs and challenges faced by faculty, students, and administrators. She has developed solutions to enhance students’ learning experiences, promoted cross-functional collaboration among diverse units, and amplified the prism for philanthropic support from corporations/foundations. Linda's research focuses on leveraging her bilingual, bicultural background to build communities that foster a sense of belonging and improve graduate student completion rates. In her spare time, she enjoys outdoor pursuits (skiing, hiking, and tennis), baking, and listening to audiobooks and podcasts while walking their spoiled fur baby, Lady Abbey.
Ifeanyichukwu Agu
Lead Technical Strategist
With a solid academic foundation in Electronic Engineering and Computer Science, Ify has over 16 years of global professional experience. His career has been marked by leadership roles at multinational corporations across the telecommunications, software, and energy sectors. In these positions, Ify has successfully led multiple teams spanning several continents, driving the delivery of innovative solutions on a global scale. However, his passion lies in the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI). He has been at the forefront of developing pioneering technologies as a co-founder of two AI-focused software startups – one specializing in machine vision and the other in large language models (LLMs). Alongside professional pursuits, Ify maintains a deep intellectual curiosity, constantly staying abreast of the latest developments in machine learning research. This commitment to ongoing learning fuels his drive to create solutions that can reshape industries and improve lives globally. Ify embraces a holistic lifestyle that nurtures physical, mental, and spiritual well-being through rock climbing, yoga, and insight meditation.