Community Conversation - Murray State University Update

Speaker:  Dr. Robert Jackson
Dr. Robert Jackson was named as the 14^th President of Murray State University (MSU) by the Board of Regents on March 1, 2019. Previously, Dr. Jackson had served as Interim President since August 16, 2018. Prior to assuming the presidency, Dr. Jackson served as President of the MSU Foundation. He has also served as Associate Vice President for Institutional Advancement in 2006 and was the University’s chief development officer and was responsible for state and federal governmental relations. In addition, he served as the director for the University’s $70 million comprehensive fundraising campaign, Hold Thy Banner High: The Campaign for the Students of Murray State University.
 
Dr. Jackson was initially hired by Murray State University in 2005 as the Director of Gift Planning. From 1997 through 2004, he served the Commonwealth of Kentucky as a State Senator, served in Senate leadership as the Minority Whip and held other appointed roles in government. In addition, Dr. Jackson has extensive experience as a corporate executive and in investment banking and financial advisory fields. Dr. Jackson has a B.S. in Finance (1985) from Murray State University. He holds an M.A. in Higher Education Administration (2006) from Antioch University and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership with an emphasis in Higher Education Leadership (2012) from Western Kentucky University.
 
Dr. Jackson was elected by his peers in 2019 to serve as the Convenor of University Presidents for the Council on Postsecondary Education. In July 2020 he was appointed by Governor Andy Beshear as a member of the Kentucky AgriTech Advisory Council.  He also holds a Certificate in Fund Raising Management from the School of Philanthropy at Indiana University. In 2010, he completed the Council for Advancement and Support of Education’s Summer Fundraising Institute at Dartmouth College.