NextGen MedPros Project Manager
Jessica Starks brings experience as a nonprofit program manager, grant writer, and qualitative researcher to her role with HealthForce Partners as NextGen MedPros Project Manager. Her expertise includes building social support programs and helping to shape policies at state and local levels.
She has recently organized and implemented policies to support youth mental health in the Stockton Unified School District and San Joaquin County Department of Juvenile Justice. She also has extensive experience facilitating discussions and teaching classes on topics related to mental health, sociology, ethnic studies, and unionization. Her research interests also cover the experience of military combatants in the US armed forces, veterans' care by the US Veterans Administration, and the US Public Health response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
She completed her undergraduate degree in Sociology at California State University, Stanislaus and advanced her education with Master's degrees in Sociology and Mexican American Studies from San José State University. Her academic work focuses on developing a transformative mentorship model in higher education aimed at improving retention rates for first-generation college students. Her research delves into the intricacies of establishing mentorship programs that motivate students to actively participate in the realms of ethnic studies, fostering both academic and political engagement.
Ms. Starks is a board member of the San Joaquin County Youth Justice Coalition and the Pitman High School Band Boosters.
Born and raised in Turlock, Jessica currently resides there with her family and their cat, Toby.
