Commencement-Fall2023

Speakers Dr. JAMES D. JACKSON, associate professor of psychology, has an award-winning tenure in his 16 years at KU. He is the co-director of the Achievement Initiative for Male Success program, and a faculty and spiritual advisor for several student organizations. He serves on the faculty committee for the Fredrick Douglass Institute and is the vice president of the Black Faculty Caucus. Jackson is a retired pastor of 20 years, most recently the senior pastor of Goodwin Memorial Baptist Church in Harrisburg, Pa., and is currently the city chaplain for the Harrisburg City Police Department. He serves as an adjunct professor at Moravian University, a position he also held at Moravian Theological Seminary and Muhlenberg College. He is a co-author of two psychology textbooks entitled, “Understanding Psychology,” and “Charting the Human Development: A Life-Span Perspective.” While at KU, Jackson has been bestowed with the Excellence in Service to Students Award by the National Society of Leadership and Success, and the Outstanding Campus-Wide Inclusive Award from the KU Multicultural Center. Jackson received his Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the University of Maryland, College Park. He did his graduate work at the University of Kansas, where he received his master’s and Ph.D. in cognitive experimental psychology with a concentration in gerontology. He later earned a Master of Arts in theological studies from Moravian Theological Seminary, Bethlehem, Pa. KAITLYN CAMPBELL of Schwenksville, Pa., graduates today with a Master of Education Pre-K-4 with certification. She earned her Bachelor of Science in psychology from West Chester University in 2021. During her time at KU, Campbell served as a dedicated special education paraprofessional, making significant contributions to co-taught classrooms on a one-on-one basis. Her responsibilities extended to crafting tailored content to meet the unique needs of students, employing a Person-Centered Approach (PCA) to ensure a personalized and effective educational experience. Working seamlessly with students ranging from kindergarten to fifth grade, Campbell strived to foster an inclusive environment that embraced diversity and individual learning styles. Additionally, she took charge of developing comprehensive schedules and setting achievable daily, weekly and monthly goals, reflecting her commitment to creating a supportive and structured learning environment for all students under her care. Campbell believes her ordinary journey as a hardworking student who faced challenges resonates with most of the student body. By sharing a philosophy that dreams are often picked up rather than predestined, she hopes to inspire fellow graduates to see themselves in the ordinary, yet determined pursuit of their goals

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