Chancellor Kent Syverud today appointed Candace Campbell Jackson to the position of vice president and chief of staff. A highly experienced and accomplished administrator, Jackson currently serves as the vice president for student success and vice provost for academic success at the University of Akron in Akron, Ohio, where she works with the university’s senior leadership team to provide the best overall experience to a community of 26,000 students. Her appointment is to be presented to the University’s Board of Trustees for approval at its next meeting.
Candace Campbell Jackson
“Candace has an impressive background in higher education that includes both strategic and operational leadership positions. Her commitment to student success in the classroom, laboratory and beyond, combined with her experience leading programs that directly support students, will be of great value to the University community,” Chancellor Syverud says. “I am confident Candace is the right person to lead the Chancellor’s Office and to coordinate the executive leadership team and support me as we move forward with important strategic initiatives. I am glad she’s agreed to come join us, and I’m eager to introduce her to our students, faculty and staff.”
Jackson says she’s honored to be appointed to Chancellor Syverud’s leadership team. “I am hopeful that my experience in advancing an institution’s strategic priorities in the ever-dynamic landscape of higher education will position me well as a partner with the ϲ faculty, students, staff and leadership team,” Jackson says. “My husband, Mark, and I will miss the Akron community and I will always be grateful for the opportunities to learn and serve the people connected with the University of Akron. Looking ahead, I’m excited about building new relationships and working alongside Chancellor Syverud and the entire campus community to enhance ϲ’s impact regionally, nationally and internationally.”
At the University of Akron, Jackson provides strategic and operational leadership to nearly 600 employees in over 20 student success and student academic support units, many of which for their excellence. In her capacity as vice provost, Jackson works closely with the provost on planning, partnerships and operations of the Office of Academic Affairs, which oversees academic planning and budgeting, accreditation and the university’s Colleges of Arts & Sciences, Health Professions, Law, Engineering, Education and Business. Additionally, Jackson oversees the Office of International Programs and the federally funded TRIO programs, which support first-generation and low-income students and their families to successfully navigate college.
Previously, Jackson served as vice president and chief of staff to the president, and vice president for strategic partnerships. Jackson coordinated a campus-wide strategic planning and visioning process at Akron, engaging more than 3,500 members of the university community in the process. The result, Vision 2020—The New Gold Standard of University Performance, incorporated a new vision and mission along with six strategic goals to sustain the university’s future success.
Prior to her career in higher education, Jackson was an attorney in the Public Law and Corporate departments of the law firm Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs, LLP, providing counsel to educational organizations, municipalities, healthcare organizations and private family foundations, practicing in the Akron and Cleveland offices.
Jackson has been recognized as one of the top leaders in Northeast Ohio by Crain’s Cleveland Business and Kaleidoscope magazines for her professional accomplishments and civic contributions. Civically, she has volunteered as a board member and raised funds to support many community organizations, including the American Heart Association, the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Girl Scouts of Northeast Ohio and the Summa Healthcare System.
A graduate of Howard University with a bachelor of arts degree in journalism, Jackson earned a J.D. from the University of Akron. She participated in the intensive, highly selective Harvard Institute for Educational Management program for higher education administrators.
She and her husband, Mark Jackson Sr., have four adult children, including daughter Jasmine Jackson, a 2008 alumna of ϲ’s College of Arts and Sciences.
Jackson will begin her new role on July 27.
Hoang-Anh L. Tran, former chief of staff to Chancellor Syverud, has returned to Kansas City, Mo., to pursue new opportunities. During this transition, she will consult on projects as a special assistant to the Chancellor.
“Hoang-Anh served the University and the Chancellor’s Office so very well during the last 18 months,” Chancellor Syverud says. “I will always be grateful to her for making the move here when I began my appointment as Chancellor. She leaves the office well-positioned for success. We have all benefited from her service and wish her the best.”
