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Jessica's Project

A Service Learning Initiative from St. Philip's College

The Story of Jessica's Project:

In March 2012, Jessica, niece of the Chair of Natural Sciences, was diagnosed with Celiac Disease at age 10. A week later, the chairperson was conducting a faculty observation in Dr. Nfor’s Nutrition class and shared the details with his class. Dr. Nfor immediately assigned the groups in the class various tasks to help Jessica and her family understand and cope with this diagnosis. The class researched the disease and made a video to send to Jessica. Jessica responded with a video of her own, asking more questions. At the end of the semester, the class hosted an information session and presented Jessica with two large baskets of Gluten-free foods as well as a buffet of a variety of foods. Jessica said, “Can I eat ALL of those things?”

From that chance beginning ‘Jessica’s Project’ has continued each semester, tackling a specific nutritionally related disease or disorder. The project has grown to include other courses within Natural Sciences, other departments, and several community organizations.

Current Events

Jessica's Project

Fall 2025 Symposium -

Consortium on Colon Health and Colon Cancer

 

Date: Nov 6, 2025,  from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 pm 

Location: Sutton Learning Center (SLC) 313 and via Zoom

Register to Attend via Zoom

 

 

Mission
  • To offer instructors and students tools to engage with the community
  • Organize symposium every semester on related subject
  • Provide online tools and resources through our partners to assist educators
  • Train instructors to incorporate civic engagement learning into their course designs.
  • Train students to conduct professional research and present posters during the symposium.
  • Create an academic co-op to foster this model of teaching
  • Teach through Problem-based/Case study analysis of medical conditions
  • Raise Awareness of the highlighted condition
  • Education and Prevention
  • Share Resources
  • Community Involvement
  • Active and Service Learning
  • Application of concepts outside the classroom through research and collaboration
Goals

The goals of Jessica’s Project is to strengthen student learning and interest in the sciences, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) by connecting course topics to issues affecting the local community.

Jessica's Project focus: A civic engagement program at St. Philip's College designed to encourage faculty to incorporate civic engagement model into their courses by redesigning old syllabi and curriculum.

This program provides help to faculty and staff through workshops, symposiums, and events organized by our students to inspire others to be vested in the community. Through this program, students, faculty and staff are given the opportunity to give back to the community, students are encourage to utilize their skills to conduct proper research on a specific topic and present a professional poster during the symposium.

Community Organizations

Contact Information

Founder and Project Coordinator:
Solomon Nfor, Associate Professor,  LVN, B.S M.S, M.S., Ph.D
Civic Engagement Trainer
Founder PPFA Foundation
snfor@alamo.edu
210-486-2754
MLK Science Bldg (SCI) 206F		 Committee Chair:
Dianna Garza, DNP,RN,CHSE - Faculty - Dept. of Nursing
Civic Engagement Advocate
dgarza358@alamo.edu
210-486-2006
Center for Health Professions