Tom Jackson Jr.

Tom Jackson Jr.
8th President of Cal Poly Humboldt
In office
June 30, 2019 – August 26, 2024
Preceded byLisa Rossbacher
Succeeded byMichael E. Spagna
10th President of Black Hills State University
In office
July 3, 2014 – June 29, 2019
Preceded byKay Schallenkamp
Succeeded byLaurie Nichols
Personal details
Born (1959-12-18) December 18, 1959 (age 65)
Seattle, Washington
SpouseMona Kumar Jackson
Children2
EducationHighline Community College (AA)
Southwest State University (BS)
University of La Verne (MS, EdD)
WebsiteOffice of the President

Tom Jackson Jr. (born December 18, 1959) is an American academic who served as president of California Polytechnic University Humboldt from fall 2019[1] to August 2024. He is best known for overseeing the university's transition to a polytechnic.

He was previously president of Black Hills State University in Spearfish, South Dakota,[2][3] vice president for student affairs at the University of Louisville in Louisville, Kentucky,[4][5] and president of the American College Personnel Association (ACPA).[6]

Early life and education

Jackson was born December 18, 1959, in Seattle, Washington.[7] Jackson received his AA in general studies in 1982 from Highline College, his BS in business management/personnel in 1985 from Southwest State University, his MS in counseling/student personnel (CACREP) in 1987, and his EdD in educational management from the University of La Verne in 1995.[8] Jackson attended Harvard University's Institute for Educational Management (IEM) in 2005.

Career

Jackson's career includes experience at colleges and universities throughout the United States including serving as President of the American College Personnel Association (ACPA).[9][10][11][12][13][14]

Top priorities for Jackson in leadership positions have been internationalism,[15][16] service to veterans,[17][18] and expanding education opportunities.[19]

Jackson was named the top "Rising Accounts of Higher Education Presidents to Follow on Twitter" by higher education blogger Josie Alhquist.[20][21] On Thursday April 24, 2024 the General Faculty of Cal Poly Humboldt passed a vote of "no confidence" in President Tom Jackson and his chief of staff, Mark Johnson, in a resolution that demands their immediate resignation because of their mishandling of student protests.[22] On April 29, 2024, 320 members of Cal Poly Humboldt's faculty and staff called for the "immediate termination" of President Jackson and his Chief of Staff Mark Johnson.[23] On July 11, Jackson announced he would be stepping down as President of Cal Poly Humboldt.[24]

Military service and community involvement

Jackson is a veteran[25] and serves as a member of the Rapid City Economic Development Corporation, First Interstate Bank's Advisory Board, Spearfish Economic Development Corporation, Spearfish Chamber of Commerce, and as a Board Member of Lead365.[26][27]

References

  1. ^ "Tom Jackson Jr., Longtime Administrator and Education Ph.D., Named New Humboldt State University President". lostcoastoutpost.com. Archived from the original on May 22, 2019. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  2. ^ "Dr. Tom Jackson, Jr., Will Be inaugurated as the Tenth President of Black Hills State University". BHSU Communications (Press release). 5 November 2014. Archived from the original on 26 March 2015. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
  3. ^ Watson, Mark (17 November 2014). "BHSU Hosts Inauguration of New President". Black Hills Pioneer. Spearfish, SD. Archived from the original on 22 August 2016. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  4. ^ Green, Ed (1 May 2014). "U of L official hired as president of Black Hills State University". Louisville Business First. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  5. ^ Colias, Meredith. "5 questions with BHSU President Tom Jackson Jr". Rapid City Journal. Archived from the original on 25 July 2014. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  6. ^ ACPA. "Seventieth President". American College Personnel Association. ACPA. Archived from the original on 11 July 2015. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
  7. ^ Gehrke, Karl (21 August 2014). "BHSU Begins School Year with New President". South Dakota Public Broadcasting. No. Dakota Midday. Archived from the original on 11 July 2015. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  8. ^ Reports, Pioneer Staff (5 July 2014). "New BHSU president arrives on campus". Black Hills Pioneer. Archived from the original on 22 August 2016. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  9. ^ "Minutes of the Academic Senate Executive Committee". Digital Commons. Cal Poly University. Archived from the original on 12 July 2015. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  10. ^ Green, Ed (1 May 2014). "U of L official hired as president of Black Hills State University". Louisville Business First. American City Business Journals. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  11. ^ American College Personnel Association. "Seventieth President". American College Personnel Association. ACPA. Archived from the original on 11 July 2015. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
  12. ^ Stoller, Eric. "ACPA AND NASPA CONSOLIDATION – #NASPACPA". Higher Ed Live. Archived from the original on 3 July 2015. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
  13. ^ "Appointments, Tenure Decisions, and Promotions of African Americans in Higher Education". The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education. 28 (28): 142–143. Summer 2000. JSTOR 2678733.
  14. ^ "Appointments, Tenure Decisions, and Promotions of African Americans in Higher Education". The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education. 11 (11): 138–139. Spring 1996. JSTOR 2963339.
  15. ^ Gehrke, Karl (22 April 2015). "Dakota Midday: BHSU forges partnership with African university". South Dakota Public Broadcasting. Archived from the original on 15 September 2015. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
  16. ^ "BHSU, Botho University develop international partnership". Black Hills Pioneer. 13 March 2015. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
  17. ^ Green, Ed (1 May 2014). "U of L official hired as President of Black Hills State University". Louisville Business First. American City Business Journals. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  18. ^ Hamrick, Florence A.; Rumann, Corey (12 November 2012). Called to Serve: A Handbook on Student Veterans and Higher Education. Jossey-Bass. p. xxv. ISBN 978-1-118-17676-4.
  19. ^ Stoller, Eric. "ACPA AND NASPA CONSOLIDATION - #NASPACPA". Higher Ed Live. Archived from the original on 3 July 2015. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
  20. ^ "New BHSU President Named One of the Top New Higher Education Leaders to Follow on Twitter". BHSU Communications (Press release). 24 July 2014. Archived from the original on 26 April 2015. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
  21. ^ Ahlquist, Josie (10 July 2014). "Blogger". Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  22. ^ Burns, Ryan (24 April 2024). "BREAKING: Cal Poly Humboldt Faculty Pass Vote of No Confidence in President Tom Jackson Amid Ongoing Student Protests".
  23. ^ https://lostcoastoutpost.com/2024/may/6/umboldts-faculty-and-staff-calls-immediate-termina/
  24. ^ https://now.humboldt.edu/news/cal-poly-humboldt-president-announces-plan-step-away
  25. ^ Hamrick, Florence A.; Rumann, Corey (2013). Called to Serve: A Handbook on Student Veterans and Higher Education. Josey-Bass. ISBN 978-1-118-17676-4. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  26. ^ "Dr. Tom Jackson, Jr. - VITA" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 March 2015. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  27. ^ "Board of Directors - Lead365". Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 17 March 2015.