October 10, 2018

Simon Institute’s John Jackson will speak at Emeritus Faculty program

by Pete Rosenbery

John Jackson CARBONDALE, Ill. — John S. Jackson, visiting professor at Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Paul Simon Public Policy Institute, will be the guest speaker at the Emeritus Faculty Organization fall program on Oct. 24.

Jackson, who has a nearly five-decade career as a teacher, researcher and administrator at SIU Carbondale, will present “Preparations for the Celebration of SIU at 150 Years with a Post Script on the Mid-Term Elections.” The program is at 9 a.m. in the Grace United Methodist Church, 220 N. Tower Road, Carbondale.

The event is free and open to the public. A question and answer session will follow. 

The lecture is a part of the Emeritus Faculty Organization, which is affiliated with the university’s Annuitants Association

Special events planned to mark university’s 150th anniversary 

The university, including the Office of the Chancellor, the SIU Alumni Association and SIU Foundation are planning a series of special events to mark 2019. That includes publication of a forthcoming book: “Southern Illinois at 150 Years: Growth, Accomplishments, and Challenges” which focuses on the past 50 years, including the last two years of President Delyte W. Morris’ era. 

Jackson is the book’s editor and he wrote the first and last chapters, and recruited authors for the remaining 13 chapters. The book includes 250 photographs depicting the university’s history. 

Jackson’s presentation will also include a discussion of the mid-term elections on Nov. 6. 

Jackson’s career at SIU Carbondale spans nearly five decades 

Jackson has made myriad connections to students, faculty and staff since the Waldo, Arkansas, native came to SIU Carbondale in September 1969 as an instructor for the political science degree program. Jackson’s tenure includes serving as interim chancellor from 1999 to 2001. 

Jackson became a professor in 1978 and served as dean of the College of Liberal Arts for 11 years. He then served as vice chancellor for academic affairs and provost from 1996 to 1999. 

Jackson’s work has included winning grants to train international students in government, politics and law, and has showcased the campus, state and nation to international students and professionals who have come to the United States as part of a summer institute on American government and politics. He also provides on-camera political commentary on various issues in national and state politics and elections. 

For more information about the presentation, contact Carolyn Wagner Snyder, emeritus faculty organization chair, at csnyder@siu.edu.