Our Staff
Dr. Jimi Francis, BS, MS, PhD, IBCLC, RLC, RDN, LD
Background and experience:
Dr. Francis believes that research is most valuable when it translates from the “bench” to the “classroom” to the “clinic” and on to life practices to improve the quality of life for individuals and families. She has developed novel lab techniques, successfully patented products (and continues developing new products utilizing biotechnology to help breastfeeding dyads), and is a reviewer for peer-reviewed journals.
After completing her Bachelor of Science in Home Economics at the University of Nevada-Reno, Dr. Jimi Francis taught Middle and High School students Life Skills. She went on to complete a Master of Science degree at the University of Nevada in Reno with a focus on infant nutrition. She then completed a Doctoral degree in Nutrition at the University of California in Davis with major professor Dr. K. G. Dewey.
Dr. Francis completed her Dietetic Internship through the University of Iowa with a Fellowship at the 96th Medical Group at Eglin Air Force Base. She continues to practice as a Lactation Consultant and serves as a trainer for the Texas State Department of Health Services Advanced Lactation Management Trainings. She currently teaches for the Department of Kinesiology and Coordinated Program in Dietetics at the University of Texas at San Antonio in Texas. She researches nutrition and human performance as director of the Integrated Nutrition and Performance Lab.
Teaching Philosophy:
Dr. Jimi’s teaching philosophy can be summed up as “See One, Do One, Teach One.” She encourages her students to experience knowledge through collaborative learning while emphasizing the relevance of that knowledge through the “how and why” using examples and case studies to complete relevant assignments that utilize the knowledge they have gained to “teach” the information to others through discussion, explanation, or practical application. She uses problem sets relevant to real-life situations in all of her teaching. Much of Dr. Jimi’s assessment is based on solving these “problem” assignments, which require students to apply the principles they have learned to a new context. She utilizes team-based learning techniques in the courses she teaches, and she recently completed certification as a trainer for team-based learning. Dr. Jimi believes teams should be built to pull from diverse backgrounds and experiences to get the best results that are generalizable to the population as a whole. In 2024, she was voted a “Most Valuable Professor” and received a “Teaching Excellence” award.
