Dr. Delores Jackson received her Ph.D. in interdisciplinary health studies with emphasis on nursing research, education and leadership from Western Michigan University in 2010. She has worked at Spring Arbor University since 2015 and currently serves as Professor of Nursing.
In her career, Dr. Jackson has held hospital administrative roles for a variety of medical-surgical and maternal-child departments. For over 30 years, Dr. Jackson served in nursing education positions comprised of faculty and administrative responsibilities. Her most notable position was as Nursing Programs Director and Health Science Chair for 13 Allied Health programs for a Michigan state college. Concurrently, she was active in the Michigan Council of Nursing Education Administrators for 12 years.
Dr. Jackson received the Teacher’s Excellence Recognition Award while at Indiana University. She has presented at 13 various conferences and universities, earning the National Institute for Staff & Professional Development’s (NISOD) “Excellence Award for Nursing Compassion: Recognizing the Commonality of Diverse Human Beings.” Dr. Jackson was also awarded “Best Speaker” at a Calhoun County Leadership Conference for the Calhoun County Business Association in Anniston, Alabama. Dr. Jackson is a funded grant writer, earning over one million dollars to renovate health science laboratories through grants she has written.
Dr. Jackson has developed specialized skills for achieving hospital and education program accreditation. She has successfully written four nursing program self-study documents, earning full accreditation terms with each one, and she has acted as an accreditation consultant for other nursing program directors.
Dr. Jackson had always wanted to be a teacher but found her passion in nursing while serving as a teenage candy-striper in a major medical center in Florida. She says of earning her first nursing degree, “I loved serving God in the capacity of human kindness and effective care delivery at the bedside. I thrived in the challenge and pace of hospital nursing. Then later in my career, to serve as mentor and educator for future generations of nurses has been exhilarating and rewarding.”
Delores and her husband, Rick, reside in Tennessee, near the lake their children and grandchildren visited every summer while growing up. Now, they are making memories for the next generation of Jacksons. “How amazing is the love of family and the joy of seeing the young ones grow in the knowledge and blessings of our Savior! God is faithful and good always!”
Education
Ph.D., Interdisciplinary Health Studies: Nursing Research, Education & Leadership, Western Michigan University, 2010
MSN, Maternal Child & Education) Troy State University, 1987
BSN, Auburn University, 1982
ADN, Polk State College, 1977
