Jessica worked with Dr. Karel Koenig this summer to examine, via the parents' perspective, the experience of living with asthma during the initial onset of symptoms in low income African American children.
"Nursing research is not as intimidating, and much more rewarding that I had imagined," she said.
"As nurses we have the capacity to change people's lives.
As nurse researchers, we are able to improve the quality of life for entire communities.
There is a great feeling of pride that comes from knowing that you are helping to have an impact on the health of communities."
After graduating from Howard in 2004, Jessica plans to work for a year, and then enroll in a master's in nursing program.
Eventually she hopes to study for a doctoral degree in nursing and to "join the ranks of nurses who are making a difference in the world through research."