A
fter graduation I attended the University of Utah where I double-majored in Communication and African American Studies. I initially planned to be a journalist but discovered at some point during undergrad what everyone else already knew which is that I am a complete nerd who has no interest whatsoever in doing anything but studying and teaching. So, after graduating from the U I attended the University of Michigan where I earned my Masters in Communication Studies in 2007 and the University of Minnesota where I earned my PhD in Mass Communication in 2010. To say that it required a lot of hard work and was a rigorous and challenging journey would be an understatement but I loved it. I’m still getting used to being called “Dr. Jackson” and kind of have to fight the urge to grin cornily whenever someone refers to me that way, but I’m also extremely proud considering neither of my parents had the opportunity to attend college at all. Over the years, I have done other things besides read and write including work with inner-city youth, volunteer on several political campaigns, serve in leadership positions in professional organizations, collect quite a few tattoos, spend time in some pretty amazing places (including Vietnam, China, and Costa Rica), and most importantly, get to know and love a lot of brilliant, inspirational, and complex people. I have a six-year-old terrier mix rescue named Nellie, I run a lot—I’ve completed 4 half-marathons—and I practice yoga pretty religiously. I am currently teaching at a private university in Boston, MA and thus won’t be attending the reunion but I hope everyone is happy, healthy, and has a great time.
A
fter graduation I attended the University of Utah where I double-majored in Communication and African American Studies. I initially planned to be a journalist but discovered at some point during undergrad what everyone else already knew which is that I am a complete nerd who has no interest whatsoever in doing anything but studying and teaching. So, after graduating from the U I attended the University of Michigan where I earned my Masters in Communication Studies in 2007 and the University of Minnesota where I earned my PhD in Mass Communication in 2010. To say that it required a lot of hard work and was a rigorous and challenging journey would be an understatement but I loved it. I’m still getting used to being called “Dr. Jackson” and kind of have to fight the urge to grin cornily whenever someone refers to me that way, but I’m also extremely proud considering neither of my parents had the opportunity to attend college at all. Over the years, I have done other things besides read and write including work with inner-city youth, volunteer on several political campaigns, serve in leadership positions in professional organizations, collect quite a few tattoos, spend time in some pretty amazing places (including Vietnam, China, and Costa Rica), and most importantly, get to know and love a lot of brilliant, inspirational, and complex people. I have a six-year-old terrier mix rescue named Nellie, I run a lot—I’ve completed 4 half-marathons—and I practice yoga pretty religiously. I am currently teaching at a private university in Boston, MA and thus won’t be attending the reunion but I hope everyone is happy, healthy, and has a great time.
