Jessica is a practicing dental hygienist and dental hygiene educator in Roanoke, Virginia. She graduated from Virginia Western Community College with an Associate degree in Dental Hygiene in 2011. She continued her educational journey to earn her Master degree through Old Dominion University, majoring in Dental Hygiene, while minoring in Training and Development. Jessica has three children with her husband, along with many animals! She enjoys traveling, hiking, swimming, continually learning, and volunteering in the community. In 2024, she obtained a certificate in oral systemic education and has begun leading learning for medical providers in the pediatric medical care setting.

Currently, Jessica works in hospital dentistry. There, she treats patients with complex medical issues, while training upcoming health professionals. Her focus is on collaboration between health professionals and community resources to improve community health. Looking forward, she is working with other hospital departments to integrate collaborative thinking and projects toward improved patient outcomes. Her teaching at Virginia Western Community College allows her to connect the dots between learning and practicing dental hygiene in alternative practice settings. Her goals are to continue research on inter professional collaboration, community interventions, and dental hygiene scope of practice to optimize overall patient health and to better reach underserved populations.