Cambridge College Appoints New President

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., March 31, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Cambridge College today announced the appointment of Deborah Jackson as its new president effective May 2011.

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"Deborah Jackson is one of the most reputable and accomplished visionary leaders in New England with a plethora of cross sector and industry experience that few individuals accomplish in a lifetime," said Cambridge College Board of Trustees Chair Derek Davis. "As a CEO for two decades, she has effectively managed and grown large, complex organizations while also inspiring others to share in that success. The Cambridge College community eagerly embraces her arrival and looks forward to her leadership in our vision to expand our campus and our impact."

Ms. Jackson is an accomplished civic and non-profit leader who brings to Cambridge College over 30 years of professional experience in the for-profit and non-profit sectors across a diverse range of fields including public policy research, health care, workforce development, education, and community services. She has been recognized for her exemplary leadership skills and solution-driven expertise on local, national and global issues.

"Deborah Jackson's presence will spark deeper collaboration that can only ignite more greatness for this school," said Cambridge College Interim President and Provost Joe A. Lee. "We look forward to having her expertise and experience, and applying it to our continued goal of being an academic conduit for workforce development and the long term success of our students."

"I am honored to join Cambridge College's dynamic academic community. The College embodies a mission that has been my lifelong focus: to close the equity gap in our society for adults from diverse backgrounds," said Jackson. "I join a team of talented and dedicated professionals and staff, and highly motivated, capable students. This is a strong foundation for implementing a vision to expand avenues to make high quality higher education accessible. I am so proud to join this College whose work reflects the importance of researching and applying solutions to the social and economic issues that limit access and opportunity in our society.

"With over 8,000 students annually, Cambridge College is a responsive learning community where adult students can find ways to make the personal and professional changes they need to achieve their goals. The College's innovative, adult-centered learning model links theory and practice, helping students to acquire the academic credentials they seek, enrich their lives and careers, and become leaders in their communities. Cambridge College programs range from bachelor's and master's degrees for educators, counselors, managers, and human service providers, to doctoral programs in educational leadership.

Most recently, Ms. Jackson served for nearly a decade as CEO of the American Red Cross of Eastern Massachusetts, one of the nation's largest Red Cross units. During her tenure, the organization experienced dramatic growth: from serving 80 cities and towns to today serving 190 cities and towns and rendering services to over 400,000 people annually through a diverse portfolio including emergency and disaster services, workforce training to over 1500 students annually, lifesaving skills training to over 100,000 people annually, and services to the armed forces and international services. Prior to the Red Cross, Ms. Jackson held the positions of Senior Vice President of Boston Children's Hospital, Vice President of the Boston Foundation and President and CEO of Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries. She began her career at Abt Associates, one of the country's largest for-profit government and business research and consulting firms.

Ms. Jackson's leadership and engagement in addressing access to higher education spans many years. For over 15 years she served as a Director on the Board of the American Student Assistance Corporation, a national student lending corporation, whose mission is to facilitate and support the efforts of students to access higher education through financial support and counseling. In addition she has served on the Boards of Roxbury Community College, Boston College Carroll School of Management, Northeastern University Corporation, and Milton Academy. She has been a Senior Fellow at Boston University's Graduate School of Business/Institute for Non-profit Management and Leadership and was a Fellow of the British-American Project of Johns Hopkins University, a society of leaders selected to collaborate on strengthening the special relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom. She attended Hampton University and received her undergraduate degree from Northeastern University. She also attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Department of Urban Studies and Planning for graduate studies and was a Harvard University Advanced Leadership Fellow.

Ms. Jackson has served on numerous civic and corporate boards including mayoral and gubernatorial appointments, including serving as Co-Chair of the Mayor's Task Force to Eliminate Racial and Ethnic Disparities in health care and health outcomes and on Boston's Green Commission. She is the recipient of numerous awards including being selected as a 2009 Barr Foundation Fellow for outstanding nonprofit leadership; Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce Pinnacle Award for Achievement in Management; induction into the Boston Women's Business Hall of Fame; and inclusion in Boston Magazine's "100 Most Influential Women in Boston".

Founded in 1971, Cambridge College is a private, non-profit institution dedicated to providing academically excellent, time-efficient, and cost-effective higher education for a diverse population of working adults for whom those opportunities may have been limited or denied. Cambridge College has sites in Cambridge, Springfield, and Lawrence, MA; Memphis, TN; Chesapeake, VA; Augusta, GA; Rancho Cucamonga, CA; and San Juan, Puerto Rico.  

SOURCE Cambridge College