Jessica Steigerwald Toro received a Bachelor of Arts in Photojournalism from Point Park University in Pittsburgh, PA in 2008. Before attending Point Park University, she studied photography and art history at Slippery Rock University in Slippery Rock, PA for two years.

At Point Park University, Jessica was a staff photographer, staff writer and photo editor for the school's weekly newspaper, The Globe. She also contributed photographs to Point Park's online news service and magazines, The Pioneer, The Cavalcade, and Justice. Jessica was an active member and president of Point Park's student chapter of the National Press Photographers Association (NPPA) and is still a current NPPA member.

Jessica worked as a black and white and color darkroom technician during her time at Point Park University. In addition, she worked as an associate wedding photographer with Paul Meyer Photography for three years.

Jessica most recently attended graduate school at The Clinton Institute for American Studies at University College Dublin in Ireland where she earned a Master of Arts in Media and International Conflict in 2011. She currently works at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) as an Ophthalmic Photographer and works on various photojournalistic projects independently.