Keynote Address

Dean Jackson currently serves as the Dean of Students at Georgia Southern University. She is married to Reverend Edward Jackson of Statesboro and they have one daughter, Miss Daiyonah Jackson. She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Education degree in Educational Leadership at Georgia Southern University. Dean Jackson created Georgia Southern V.A.L.U.E.S., a civility initiative which is rooted in responsible decision-making. Further, she developed a Dean of Students Crisis Management Plan, facilitated a Student Grievance policy, and served as a liaison and advocate for students by identifying campus resources and services. She avidly supported the Dean of Students Office by introducing assessment efforts and policies to improve student customer service. In February 2012, Patrice Buckner Jackson was appointed as Interim Dean of Students at Georgia Southern University. The position became permanent in June 2012. She is the former Chair of the Regent’s Advisory Council for Student Conduct Officers (RAC-SCO) and an active member of the Association for Student Conduct Administrators and Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education (NASPA). Dean Jackson complements her devotion to student development with a passion for service and civic engagement. She has advised the Black Student Union at St. Mary’s University, and has worked as a mentor for LINKS and the Young Ladies of Christian Excellence organizations. She has directed church ministries for women, discipleship training, singles, and youth in music. She has also hosted a local Christian radio broadcast, The Wonder of the Word, on WSLT 88.5. She is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. Patrice Buckner Jackson has been lauded by her colleagues for her commitment to the positive experiences and development of her students, her relentless pursuit of excellence in higher education, and her superior level of professionalism. Students describe her tenacity as an advocate for students, her fitness of character, and her initiative and willingness to go the extra mile. These traits are evident in her works each and every day, and one can only anticipate the impact that she will make over the course of her career and life