Melvin “Jai” Jackson Named Director for Graduate Student Recruitment, Mentoring, and Success

Melvin “Jai” Jackson, Ph.D., will begin as NC State College of Education’s director for graduate student recruitment, mentoring, and success Aug. 1.

In this role, Jackson’s primary responsibility will be providing graduate student and program support to ensure graduate student success, recruiting prospective graduate students, and assessing graduate programs.

“Dr. Jackson will bring a passion for student development, engagement and success to the position, and a capacity to organize and manage student programs designed to advance the success of all graduate students,” said Lee Stiff, associate dean for faculty and academic affairs.

Previously, Jackson was an assistant professor and chair of the Department of Advising and Academic Development at Zayed University in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. His research has focused on race and culture in education and how the cultural disability of educators can hinder the academic and social success of students in the American education system.

Jackson also has served as an interim director of new student programs, residence coordinator of Keohane Quadrangle, communications coordinator of University Center and Events, and coordinator of social media and mobile dining operations at Duke University.

He earned his Ph.D. in Educational Leadership, Research, and Counseling at Louisiana State University, where he was a Louisiana Board of Regents/SREB Doctoral Fellow. He earned his master’s in college student development and bachelor’s in business administration/healthcare management from Appalachian State University.