David Jackson Jr., Ph.D., Appointed NCCU Provost, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs

DURHAM, NC  – David H. Jackson Jr., Ph.D., has been appointed provost and vice chancellor for Academic Affairs at North Carolina Central University (NCCU). Jackson was selected following a competitive, national search. He will begin at NCCU on July 1, 2021.

Currently, Jackson serves as associate provost for Graduate Education and Dean of the School of Graduate Studies, Research, and Continuing Education at Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University (FAMU) in Tallahassee, Fla., a position he has held since 2015. While serving in the role, he has grown enrollment and increased graduation rates, improved the admissions process, and worked to expand graduate and professional student funding.

He began his academic career at FAMU in 1997 with his appointment as assistant professor of history. Shortly after, he was promoted to associate professor and full professor and was later elected chairman of the Department of History, Political Science, Public Administration, Geography, and African American Studies at FAMU. Throughout his time at FAMU, Jackson has earned many awards and distinctions, including the Rattler Pride Award for Community Leadership, Advanced Teacher of the Year Award, Teacher of the Year twice, and the FAMU Research Excellence Award. In 2012, he was named one of the “Outstanding Alumni of the Quasquicentennial” and is part of the Gallery of Distinction in the College of Arts and Sciences at the university.  Additionally, in 2014, Jackson received the Equity Award from the American Historical Association, the largest historical association in the country.

Jackson has published over four dozen scholarly articles, book chapters, short essays, and book reviews, and has presented over 100 scholarly papers and speeches at professional conferences, universities, public schools, and other venues throughout the United States. He is recognized as one of FAMU’s most published professors. He is the author or editor of six scholarly books. Additionally, he was a 2017 Fulbright-Hays Fellow and studied in Botswana and Namibia. He has visited seven countries on the continent of Africa over the course of his professorial career.

After earning a Bachelor of Science degree in history education and a Master of Applied Social Sciences degree in public administration, both from FAMU, Jackson received a Doctor of Philosophy degree in history at the University of Memphis. In addition, Jackson completed the Management Development Program at Harvard University and was selected as an American Council on Education Fellow, as part of its 2017-2018 class, and completed his fellowship at the University of Houston.

“In the role of NCCU’s provost, Dr. David H. Jackson, Jr. will shape the future of the academic enterprise at the university,” said Johnson O. Akinleye, Ph.D., chancellor of North Carolina Central University. As the University’s chief academic officer, Jackson will report to Chancellor Akinleye and oversee NCCU’s academic programs, research, personnel, resources, and support services.

“Dr. Jackson will provide academic leadership for ensuring the quality of instruction and research through collaborative work with the deans, department chairs, and faculty; administering and monitoring procedures and criteria for faculty appointments and tenure promotion; and ensuring the quality of student learning as well as working collaboratively with the chancellor, vice-chancellors, and all major councils and committees to accomplish the mission of the university,” Akinleye said.

“I am elated to join the Eagle family and I look forward to working with Chancellor Akinleye, the leadership team, faculty, staff, students, and all constituents of NCCU as we soar to higher heights,” Jackson said.

Jackson will also lead and support the development of new doctoral programs to help achieve the University’s strategic goal of rising in Carnegie classifications. Additionally, he will lead and support the development of new bachelor’s and master’s degree programs to meet new market needs in the growing medical and health science economy of North Carolina’s Research Triangle. Jackson will also work in conjunction with the Office of Sponsored Research and Programs, as well as the two research institutes, the Julius L. Chambers Biomedical Biotechnology Research Institute (BBRI) and the Biomanufacturing Research Institute and Technology Enterprise (BRITE), to raise and support the University’s research activity. Jackson will work closely with the Division of Enrollment Management to increase both the numbers and quality of the student body.

“Dr. David Jackson has been a highly effective faculty member and administrator at FAMU and will be just as effective in his new role at North Carolina Central University as provost and vice chancellor for Academic Affairs,” stated Larry Robinson, Ph.D., president of Florida A&M University. “We know that he will encourage NCCU academic administrators, faculty, staff, and students to continue to excel just as did here at FAMU. We wish him well.”