A native of Monroe, Louisiana, Jennifer attended Northeast Louisiana University where she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Art/Graphic Design. She is also a graduate of The National Academy of Paralegal Studies, Medical Terminology Transcription program at Louisiana Tech University, Phlebotomy Tech program at the University of Louisiana Monroe and Central Michigan University with a Master of Science Degree in Health Services Administration. As an employee of The Department of Veterans Affairs, she has also completed numerous hospital administration program courses and is a graduate of EVAL – Emerging VA Leaders Program and Cornerstones Supervisory Leadership training.
A member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Jennifer’s volunteer activities include work with United Way of Northeast Louisiana, Lupus Foundation of America – Northeast Louisiana Chapter, ARCO-A Community Resource, The Salvation Army, Northeast Louisiana Telethon for Cerebral Palsy, International Natural Hair Meetup Day by She Naturally Rocks of Price’s Beauty Enterprises, OWNly Hear Community and Lupus Foundation of America E-Advocates. Some of her other interests and hobbies include music, writing poetry, shopping, fashion, travel, cooking, event planning, stage plays, movies, pageantry and photography. Her favorite is creating artwork though her home based business, JenniKHreations. She has aspirations to one day start a summer art camp for youth in her community.
She holds local and state beauty pageant titles; Ms. Ouachita Parish Plus America 2011 and Ms. Louisiana Plus America 2011. A member of Integrity Beauty Women of Excellence, she holds the title of 2012 Integrity Beauty Woman of Encouragement and 2013 Integrity Beauty Woman of Optimism. As Devotional Blogger of Integrity Beauty, her inspirational messages of encouragement can be read on the website’s blog, which is entitled DEVO – Devotional Encouragement for Victorious Outcomes. She is the director of Motivation for You Women of Significance, Integrity Beauty’s sister program and holds the Inaugural Title of Woman of Significance for 2013 and 2014. She is also a 2014 Miss Plus USA Pageant System agent/recruiter for the state of Louisiana.
As a Lupus survivor of 24 years, she is committed to bring as much awareness as possible to the disease; which most people know nothing about. After connecting with the Lupus Foundation of America and being turned down to start a chapter in her area, she decided to start an organization on her own. She is the founder and executive director of Transcending Lupus Support Alliance of Northeast Louisiana, LLC. This mission began through her pageant platform; Life, Love and Lupus – Support Lupus Awareness. Jennifer says, “The road to getting this organization off the ground has been very difficult.” Even so, despite all of the difficulties she is encountering, she remains optimistic. “Our team has grown tremendously over the past year. I have faith that the community will eventually come around to support the organization and recognize Lupus for the extremely devastating and debilitating disease that it is.”
"I’m Ms. Alberts Goddaughter, my Grandmother and Mrs. Albert were best friends and neighbors. I met my Godsister Roberta after my Godmother passed away and because of the video the two of them made, I went on to be a first responder for the flood victims in Atlanta. My Sis, as I fondly call Roberta is the REAL THING, thank you"
- Marcina Lanee Gilliam