Dr. Pamela S. Jackson | Chair

Pamela S. JacksonPamela S. Jackson was elected to the Oakland Community College Board of Trustees in 2016. Her extensive professional roles have ranged from orchestrating a construction project renovating apartments for homeless veterans to construction consultation and college-level teaching. Her consulting firm, Fresh Perspectives, specializes in construction, historic restoration, renovations and prison education. Dr. Jackson’s varied experiences have allowed her to serve Oakland Community College as educator and Board member.

Dr. Jackson’s ties to Oakland Community College are extensive including serving as both Mathematics and Construction and Concrete Construction Management Faculty at the College’s Orchard Ridge Campus for more than 31 years. In these roles, she created and taught a plethora of classes in person and online. In addition, Dr. Jackson’s tenure included active involvement in curriculum and program design, as well as facilities management at the Orchard Ridge Campus.

A respected educator, Dr. Jackson’s teaching extended into program and department leadership. She served as Interim Dean of Academic and Student Services for parts of 1999-2004, where she supervised academic departments at the Orchard Ridge Campus and coordinated budgets, scheduling, and technology room renovations. Prior to that, she served as Math Department Chair and Construction Management Program Coordinator.

Community & Professional Leadership

  • Member, Michigan Education Association (MEA) and National Education Association (NEA)
  • Member, American Association of University Women (AAUW)
  • Member, American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges, Michigan Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges
  • Member, Council of Michigan Construction Educators and Michigan Construction Teachers Association
  • Member, National Association of Professional Women and Delta Kappa Gamma (professional honor society of women educators in the United States, Canada, Europe, Latin America and Japan)
  • President, (2011-2012), Member (2009-present), Lakes Area Rotary Club
  • Member, Michigan Film Alliance, Sierra Club and Volunteers of America
  • Member, Novi Lions Club

Education

  • Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, Wayne State University
  • Master of Science in Industrial Technology/Construction Management, Eastern Michigan University
  • Master of Arts in Mathematics, Eastern Michigan University
  • Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics, Western Michigan University

Career Highlights

  • Owner/Consultant, Fresh Perspectives
  • Construction Manager, Volunteers of America-Toepfer Project
  • VIP Woman of the Year (2013), National Association of Professional Women
  • Excellence Award Recipient, 2010 National Institute for Staff Organizational Development
  • Outstanding Faculty Awards 2008-09, Oakland Community College – Orchard Ridge Campus
  • Outstanding Occupational Educator Award for Two-Year Colleges (2002), TRENDS Michigan Occupational Deans Administrative Council
  • Former High School Math Teacher (1977-1983)
  • Guest speaker at numerous academic and professional conferences