Alumni Spotlight: Jennifer Christopher (‘99)
By Brittney Kimber
What started as a fascination and a personal challenge to conquer computers ended up launching Jax State alum Jennifer Christopher (‘99) into a long-standing career with NASA. With a degree in computer science, she was able to support the Artemis II mission as an aerospace engineer from the Mission Control Center in Houston, Texas.
“When I was a sophomore in high school, personal computers were just beginning to become mainstream, and I was fascinated by them,” Christopher said. “A friend owned a company that had recently purchased a computer to help manage their business. During a visit, I remember wanting to sit down and try it out, but I was too intimidated to touch it. I did not understand how it worked.
“That moment had a major impact on me. I realized I did not like the feeling of being afraid of technology or limited by a lack of knowledge. Instead of avoiding it, I decided I wanted to understand it completely. That experience motivated me to pursue a degree in computer science at Jacksonville State University, where I learned not only how computers work, but also how to program them myself. What started as curiosity and a desire to overcome fear of the unknown ultimately became the foundation for my career in technology and systems engineering.”
Christopher has worked at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) in Huntsville, Ala., for 26 years in both contractor and civil servant roles. She said supporting the Artemis II mission has been one of the most rewarding experiences of her career because it represented years of hard work and dedication by many talented people working together on the historic mission.
“My career path to supporting the Artemis II mission as an aerospace engineer began at Jacksonville State University,” Christopher said. “While at JSU, I not only developed a technical foundation in software and systems engineering, but I also learned the importance of building professional relationships. During college, I completed an internship with the Department of Defense Polygraph Institute and worked as a student aide supporting the Computer Science faculty and staff. Those experiences helped me better understand the type of work I wanted to pursue after graduation and allowed me to build relationships with mentors and professionals who helped open doors to future opportunities.”
After graduation, Christopher began supporting NASA mission operations at NASA’s MSFC through the Huntsville Operations Support Center, where she worked on International Space Station operations and ground systems supporting human spaceflight missions.
“Over the next twenty-six years, I progressed through increasingly technical and leadership-focused roles across multiple NASA programs and obtained two more degrees,” Christopher said. “That experience and education ultimately led me to support NASA’s Artemis II mission as an Imagery Engineer for the Moon to Mars program, and now into my next role supporting NASA’s Space Nuclear Propulsion (SNP) technology maturation efforts. Looking back, the path that began at JSU with a computer science degree, meaningful mentorships, and early professional relationships ultimately evolved into a career supporting some of NASA’s most advanced human exploration initiatives and the future of deep space exploration.”
She said her background in aerospace systems engineering and imagery/data systems played an important role during the Artemis II mission because imagery at NASA is used for more than public outreach.
“Images and video are important operational tools that help engineers and flight controllers monitor spacecraft performance, maintain situational awareness, and document mission events,” Christopher said. “My work involved helping coordinate complex technical systems and making sure multiple NASA organizations could successfully work together and share critical mission data.”
She said another unique opportunity she had while supporting the Artemis II mission was serving as the NASA imagery technical point of contact for the Fall 2026 National Geographic documentary series, Return to the Moon.
“In this role, I helped support the integration and coordination of imagery systems and hardware used to capture footage aboard the Orion spacecraft during the mission,” Christopher said. “What makes the documentary especially exciting is that it allows people to experience the mission from perspectives they normally would never see, including footage captured during the actual flight.
“I would absolutely encourage anyone interested in space exploration, engineering, or science to watch it when it is released because it really captures the excitement and importance of this new era of exploration.”
She has also been able to help inspire and support the next generation of students interested in STEM careers.
“I have enjoyed visiting local schools and speaking with students about NASA, space exploration, and STEM careers,” Christopher said. “Seeing students become enthusiastic about space exploration and realizing they could one day work in STEM fields themselves is incredibly rewarding.”
In addition, Christopher has continued to serve as an Advisory Board Member for the Jax State Mathematical, Computing, and Information Sciences Department. In this role, she has provided industry perspective and supported discussions about the future direction of academic programs and workforce preparation.
“It is rewarding to help contribute to the development of future students and ensure they are equipped with skills that align with real-world technical and engineering careers,” Christopher said. “I value the impact Jax State had on my life and want to help support future students pursuing STEM careers.”
She said Jax State gave her a strong foundation that helped prepare her for her professional career, personal growth, and empowered her by encouraging involvement outside of academics.
“The coursework challenged me to think analytically and taught me how to approach complex technical problems in a structured way,” Christopher said. “More importantly, my mentor, Dr. Donnie Ford, taught me the value of staying curious and learning how to teach myself by fully engaging with the subject matter.
“Being a member of the Marching Southerners taught me teamwork, discipline, time management, and the importance of working toward a common goal. I also served on the leadership team of the Marching Southerners (a Color Guard Captain), which helped me strengthen my leadership, communication, and organizational skills while learning how to motivate and support a large team. Those experiences continue to help me today in high-pressure environments such as NASA mission operations and project leadership roles.”
In March 2025, MSFC Center Leadership selected Christopher as one of two MSFC representatives to participate in a six-month leadership program developed by NASA’s Academy of Program/Project and Engineering Leadership Knowledge Services in partnership with the Chief Program Management Officer.
“This program was developed to advance NASA project managers’ core competencies and build new skills to lead complex projects. I was honored to be one of 21 project managers from across the agency making up the first cohort of this new program,” Christopher said.
She is transitioning into a new role supporting NASA’s SNP program as a Project Manager and Cost Account Manager. In this role, Christopher said she will help manage the planning and coordination of advanced technology projects that could support future deep space missions.
“What excites me most about this new opportunity is the chance to support technologies that could help future astronauts travel deeper into space, including someday sending humans to Mars. It is rewarding to be part of work that may help shape the next generation of space exploration,” Christopher said.
Christopher said Jax State means much more to her than simply earning a degree.
“It is where I built lifelong friendships, met my husband, discovered my career direction, and developed the confidence and leadership skills that helped me succeed professionally,” Christopher said.
“One of my most memorable experiences at Jacksonville State University was being a member of the Marching Southerners, where I met my husband, Jeremy Christopher, who was the drum major at the time. After graduating from JSU, we got married and had two sons, Noah and John Parker.
“When I look back on my time at JSU, memories from the Marching Southerners are some of the moments I treasure most because they not only shaped my college experience but also helped shape my family and my life. Blow Southerners!”