Inspiring Meaningful Change
Alum Joseph Jackson moved to the Twin Cities from Iowa to support his brother’s family with childcare during the COVID-19 pandemic. There, while helping care for two young children, he was encouraged to pursue a higher education. Minneapolis College offered Jackson an economics transfer pathway and the downtown campus was close to where he was living and working. He enrolled in the fall of 2021 and quickly embraced the college experience through his studies and extracurricular involvement.
Jackson’s first leadership role on campus began when he was elected by his peers to serve as the Director of Finance for the Minneapolis College Student Senate. In this position, one of his responsibilities was serving on the Student Life Budget Committee which plays a significant role in determining funding for student clubs on campus. Jackson’s roles in finance directly aligned with his interests, skills, and career aspirations.
A few months into his term as the Director of Finance, the President of the Student Senate graciously stepped down and Jackson was encouraged to run for the seat. He was honored to be elected to this new leadership position and connected with faculty, staff, and his peers on campus to create meaningful change on campus.
“In November of 2022, I partnered with Academic Advising, Career Services, and the Office of Equity and Inclusion, spearheading an event to increase trajectory awareness among students,” said Jackson, who recognized not every student knows their next steps after graduating from Minneapolis College. “My intention was to create an annual event that would encourage students to take an active role in planning their future.”
Another of Jackson’s accomplishments during his term was to repurpose an unused space on campus, creating a rec room for students. You can find students gathering in the new rec center located in the Helland Student Center, H.2901, alongside an extensive variety of cultural, educational, social, and recreational programs. Jackson hopes incoming senate leadership will take the rec center one step further and offer information about student resources available on campus.
In the fall of 2023, Jackson will begin the next phase of his education at the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management where he will study finance. A testament to his dedication to his education, he is the proud recipient of a three-year merit scholarship. Jackson aspires to a career in investment banking and private equity. “The entire reason I wanted to become a finance major is I find taking a pool of money and making it grow inspiring,” said Jackson, who is one step closer to achieving his dream.