DR. GLORIA MCKINNEY JACKSON

Dr. Gloria McKinney Jackson was the second of two children born to the union of Nina Olevia and Rogers McKinney on May 20, 1931, in Navasota, Texas. The product of two Christian parents, Gloria enjoyed a rich family heritage undergirded by values exhibited in her adult life. Gloria served humanity in many ways with emphasis on education, Christian values, and her concern for others.

Dr. Jackson attended public schools in Navasota, Texas. She met and married her college sweetheart, Leroy Jackson in 1951. Both attended Prairie View A & M College, now Prairie A & M University. Two daughters were born, Nina Marie and Ethel Wyvette.

After working as one of the last Negro Home Demonstration Agents in Bastrop, Texas, she served as a county extension agent. Dr. Jackson visited and assisted rural African American families with food processing, youth development, farming, and livestock management.

With a strong commitment to serve humanity as an educator, Dr. Jackson participated in many learning experiences at various educational institutions. Gloria earned the Bachelor of Science degree from Prairie View A & M University in 1951 with a major in home economics with additional studies in elementary education. The M.S. degree in Business Education was earned at the University of Indiana in Bloomington, Indiana in 1960. Further study at Indiana University prepared her for administrative positions in higher education and additional educational experiences including but not limited to, the Ed.D degree earned at Nova Southeastern University located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in 1982.

Dr. Jackson enriched her education and preparation through additional workshops and learning experiences. Some of these learning experiences included a three-month training period on computer programming at IBM in Poughkeepsie, New York in 1971. Learning to use the Dictaphone (court reporting machines) provided additional learning experiences for students. In addition, further training was completed at the University of Southern Mississippi. Her quest for knowledge did not cease while employed in higher education institutions of learning, namely, Alcorn State University, St. Philip’s, and San Antonio Colleges.

She was employed by Alcorn State University in Lorman, Mississippi, one of the nation’s historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) from 1954 - 1973, and worked there for nineteen years in various instructional, managerial, and administrative positions. During that time, Dr. Jackson decided to pursue a master’s degree, which wasn’t available to her as a woman of color in Mississippi, so the state funded her education at Indiana University (Blooming, Indiana), where she earned her M. S. degree in Business in 1960.

Dr. Jackson moved to San Antonio in 1973 for employment at St. Philip’s College where she served as Chairperson of the Business Administration Department, Accounting Professor and President of the College. Assuming the role of President, Dr. Jackson brought with her an impressive 29 years of experience in higher education. Her visionary leadership, coupled with a passion for academic excellence, set a standard that resonated throughout the campus and community.

In 1985, after serving as President of St. Philip’s College, she went on to work at the Alamo Community Colleges District office, contributing her expertise to special projects and playing a critical role in the opening of Palo Alto College (San Antonio, TX), and serving as Assistant to the Chancellor of the District.  Dr. Jackson found that she missed teaching and interacting with students, so she took a faculty position at San Antonio College (San Antonio, TX). This decision allowed her to help thousands of students prepare for gainful employment. Dr. Jackson touched the lives of many. Her retirement in 1999, marked her 50th year in education. As the second female president of the college, she leaves behind a legacy that will continue to inspire generations of students, faculty, and staff.

Dr. Jackson has been the recipient of many awards. One of the most significant awards was being one out of one-hundred women chosen nationwide for participating in an intensive administrative training program for women, Leaders of the 1980s, in 1982. Some of the other awards include IBM and Ford Foundation Grant recipient in 1965, initiation into Delta Pi Epsilon Honorary Fraternity in Business at Indiana University in 1962, Phi Theta Kappa Honorary member, included in the 1967 edition of Outstanding Personalities of the South, Higher Education Achievement Award Texas Black Legislature Caucus in 1983, and elected by her colleagues for the Minnie Piper Stevens awards as one of the most outstanding educators of the year in 1977. Psi Alpha Chapter of Omega Psi Fraternity presented an award as Citizen of the Year in 1983.

Dr. Jackson was affiliated in social and professional organizations. Affiliations

include but not limited to the following: Top Ladies of Distinction, Texas Junior College Teachers Association, Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, Delta Pi Epsilon and Alpha Kappa Alpha, Sorority, Inc.

Dr. Jackson is a member of St. Paul United Methodist Church in San Antonio, Texas. Church activities include serving as a member of the finance, nominating, historical and building committees, church delegate to the Southwest Conference, member of the Board of Trustees, Communion Stewards, served as Women’s Day Chairperson and United Women in Faith (formerly United Methodist Women). She served as speaker at many events and organizations.

Dr. Jackson is preceded in death by her sister Ethel Mae Williams, brother-in-law Robert Williams, sister Mattie Mae Behn, sister Katie Mae McKinney, nephews Wayne Brown and James Jackson, niece Donna McKinney, husband Leroy Jackson, and parents Nina Olevia and Rogers McKinney.

She leaves to cherish her memories, daughter, Ethel Wyvette Jackson, daughter Nina Marie Cook, son-in-law Clarence Edward Cook Jr. grandsons Edward Leroy Cook and Clarence Edward Cook III, great granddaughters Cryshtianna Denae Cook and Chenise D’Nette Cook, daughter-in-law Deborah Cook Anderson, nieces, Mary Chambers, Diane McKinney, Deborah McKinney and spouse Gary Borden, Mercedes Tolbert and spouse Byron Tolbert, nephew, Roderick Jackson and a host of loving relatives, grands, greats, and friends.

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