Karen F. Jackson, Ed.D.Director, Advising Programs

Interview Assignment, Darrah D. Henry, Monday, November 17, 2014, EDLD – 7430/02

Georgia Gwinnett College

1000 University Center Lane

Lawrenceville, GA 30043

Faculty/Staff

Introduction: Getting to know Dr. Jackson

• Dr. Karen Jackson has 20 years of experience in education that includes work in K-12 and at higher education institutions. Her higher education experience has focused on student success planning and includes work in admissions, financial aid, academic advising, student conduct and academic integrity. She is a former school teacher with additional experience in program development and evaluation, research, and education advocacy. Dr. Jackson earned an Ed. D. in Education Administration and Policy Studies from The George Washington University, a M. Ed. in Higher Education from The College of William & Mary and a B.S. in Public Administration from James Madison University.

• Dr. Jackson is the youngest of 10 children with most of her siblings also working in education. She is married and has two young children, Amira and Zuri.

James Madison University:Getting to know Dr. Jackson

James Madison University• Established March 14, 1908• Comprehensive University• Named after: President James Madison• Mascot: Duke Dog

• Mission: We are a community committed to preparing students to be educated and enlightened citizens who lead productive and meaningful lives.

• Volunteered in various community projects and outreach programs

• NAACP Image Award Recipient:Outstanding Leader in Junior Class

• NAACP Image Award Recipient:Outstanding Senior Leadership

• President of Black Student Alliance

• Founding Member of Students for Minority Outreach

Career Path: Getting to know Dr. Jackson

B.S. in Public Administration from

James Madison University - 1991

M. Ed. in Higher Education from The College of William &

Mary - 1993

Job - Admissions

1st Grad Teacher at St. Mary’s Academy

1995 - 1998 and Lindenwood Elementary

1998 - 2000

Although Dr. Jackson comes from a family enriched in the field of education it was not until she attended James Madison University that she developed a passion for pursuing a career working in Higher Education.

While pursuing her Master’s Degree at The College of William & Mary, Dr. Jackson was able to gain experience in multiple areas of higher education. She was a Graduate Assistant for the Associate Dean in the School of Education.

Dr. Jackson’s first position in Higher Education was in the Admissions Office at Johnson & Wales University (JWU). She worked there for one year, and then every summer for five consecutive summers.

Dr. Jackson wanted to change the world. She knows to the average mind she may have sounded crazy, but she had a dream and belief that she could make a difference. She wanted to provide the babies of today a future so they could be the successful leaders of tomorrow. In doing so she began teaching 1st grade while still maintaining her Admissions position at Johnson & Wales during the summer months.

Career Path: cont. Getting to know Dr. Jackson

Washington, DC

Charlotte, NC

Vanderbilt UniversityAtlanta Metro University

Georgia Gwinnett College

2013 - Present

The “No Child Left Behind Act of 2011” – Had a significant impact on what was going on inside the classroom. It was at that time that Dr. Jackson decided to go back to school and pursue her terminal degree at George Washington University.

As Dr. Jackson continued her studies and advancement in her professional career she also found time to get married which found her moving to Charlotte, NC. Professionally she had made such an impact at Johnson & Wales that she was encourage to pursue a position at their Charlotte campus where she chartered their Advising Center.

For a little more than two and a half years she served as the Assistant Director of the Student Conduct and Academic Integrity at Vanderbilt University. In August of 2012 she along with her family moved again to Atlanta, GA, where she was offered the position as the Director for the Center for Academic Advising at Atlanta Metropolitan State College.

August 1, 2013 Dr. Karen Jackson became the Charter Director of the Advising Center at Georgia Gwinnett College.

Career Reflection: Getting to know Dr. Jackson

As a newly established division under academic affairs the best parts of Dr. Jackson’s current position in the Advising Center other than having the best staff are: • Having the opportunity to try new things.• Having a very supportive administrative system.

A challenge she faces in her current position is being a newly established office on campus.

“As one person I cannot change the world, but I can change the world of one person.” ~ Paul Sharie Spear

A picture says a thousand words: Dr. Jackson is satisfied with working in Higher Education.• She is still making an impact to “Change the World.”

Future Aspirations:• A position with a broader responsibility in the areas of retention, progression, and

graduation.

Word of Advice: Getting to know Dr. Jackson

“Appreciate the Journey as you travel towards your many Destinations in LIFE” ~Dr. Karen Jackson

L – LeadershipI – IntegrityF – FlexibilityE – Efficiency

Advising Center: The MissionGetting to know Dr. Jackson

“The mission of the Georgia Gwinnett College Advising Center in the School of Transitional Studies is to assist students, through academic advising, to develop and implement plans for achieving educational and life goals. Students who are advised in the Advising Center will become self-directed, responsible decision makers working to achieve their academic, personal, and career goals.”

~Est. October 28, 2013

Advising Center: HierarchyGetting to know Dr. Jackson

~Est. October 28, 2013

Dr. Karen Jackson

Director, Advising Programs

Ms. Wendy Anderson

Advisor

Ms. Cara Kelly

Advisor

Ms. Diana Rowe

Advisor

Ms. Nancy Ciudad-Simmons

Advisor

Dr. DeAnna Jackson

Associate Director, Advising Programs

Ms. Darrah Henry

Administrative Assistant III

Advising Center: HighlightsGetting to know Dr. Jackson

62%

83%

81%

77

66%

92%

81%

85%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 120% 140% 160% 180% 200%

*Math 0099

*Read 0098

*ENGL 0099

*EAP

Advising Center AdviseesFall 2013 Spring 2014

*Percentage of students who completed the course successfully.

Advising Center: Budget StructureGetting to know Dr. Jackson

**Shumates make GGC’s Advising Center possibleJune 27, 2014

A significant gift of $250,000 from Greg and Tammy Shumate enabled Georgia Gwinnett College and its School of Transitional Studies to recently open [the]much-needed Advising Center. The center served 1,061 students in its first year [from November 2013-June 2014].

**For this entire article please copy/paste the link below to the GGC webpage: http://www.ggc.edu/about-ggc/news/News/shumates-make-ggcs-advising-center-possible

Advising Center FundingGrant/Private Donor (Advising Center start-up funds)State Funds

Advising Center: Looking Ahead…Getting to know Dr. Jackson

Plans for the future…• With hiring more advisors the Advising Center hopes

to expand programs such as their GROW program, workshops, and other specialties to reach more students.

Issues facing…Higher Education today… • Access, Affordability, Persistence of Students...

My Reaction: The Interview Getting to know Dr. Jackson

#MyJob/BossIsCoolerThanYours

• I love my current position at GGC working in the Advising Center.

• I love the dynamic team of women I work with.

• I looked at the syllabus at the beginning of the semester and as soon as I saw one of the major assignments was to interview a professional in higher education I knew I was going to ask Dr. Jackson to be my subject.