Tennis Alum Devotes Life To Higher Education

September 17, 2009 -

During his undergraduate days at Carnegie Mellon, John Jackson changed his course of study so often that he should have been considered a utility infielder of campus majors.

When he finally settled on industrial management, Jackson finished his fourth year two classes short of being able to graduate. Instead of sticking around to simply complete his undergraduate degree, Jackson elected to secure a research assistant position with a favorite professor and pursue his master’s degree as well. It was this decision that changed the course of John Jackson’s life.

“I am a political science professor at the University of Michigan because of Otto Davis,” Jackson said. “I asked Professor Davis if he’d take me on as a research assistant and he had a huge influence on me. In the beginning, I had no inclination to become an academic.”

From that point forward, Jackson devoted his life to research and higher education. After receiving his master’s from Carnegie Mellon in 1965, Jackson had job offers from Proctor and Gamble and the federal government but elected to continue his education on a fellowship at Harvard. In three years he earned his PhD from the world-renowned institution. 

A two-year commitment to the United States Army kept Jackson from beginning his academic career until June 1970. He then spent seven years as an assistant and associate professor at Harvard and three more as an associate professor at the University of Pennsylvania. In 1980, he moved west to Ann Arbor and has been a steady presence in the political science department ever since.

While he was a student at Carnegie Mellon, Jackson had the opportunity to compete as a member of the men’s tennis program. Although his experience with the program wasn’t always perfect, Jackson learned invaluable lessons through his participation – lessons he still uses today.

“Tennis brought a really important, non-academic dimension for me. I really enjoyed having that outlet for fun,” Jackson said. “I received a tremendous amount of growth just in how to compete and cope with failure. I certainly have not had unbridled success in my academic career and there have been disappointments along the way. I think athletics teaches you to pick up and go on.”

Those important lessons are some of the major reasons that Jackson has become a significant supporter of the men’s and women’s tennis programs at Carnegie Mellon. For the past few years, Jackson has made generous gifts that have helped enhance the experience of tennis student-athletes at the university.

“John’s support provides us with the opportunity to do a lot of things that help make us one of the top programs in the country,” said Head Coach Andy Girard. “We’re able to practice more indoors and truly enhance the overall experience of our players. He’s made a tremendous impact.” 

Jackson hadn't been a supporter of Carnegie Mellon tennis until a few years ago, when he received a team update from Girard. When Jackson read about the team’s academic and athletic success, he was inspired to do what he could to help enhance the program.

“I very much like the direction that Carnegie Mellon has taken its athletics program over the last 10 to 15 years. I have a tremendous affinity for the philosophy of Division III athletics,” Jackson said. “I really hope in some small way I can contribute to them having a richer experience.”

Jackson believes that the lessons student-athletes learn during practice and competition can have a truly positive impact on the world.

“Winning does not justify ignoring the rules anymore than the ends justify the means in any context. I think this is more apparent in tennis at the collegiate level, where there are no referees and players are responsible for calling the play,” Jackson said.  “I hope the teaching that is, or should be, part of collegiate athletics as part of an undergraduate education makes such unethical behavior less likely in later non-athletic settings.”

Jackson is proud to support a women’s tennis program that was ranked third nationally last spring, and a men’s program that narrowly missed advancing to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Championship. More important to the professor, however, is the experience those student-athletes have on the court, in the classroom and as valued members of the Carnegie Mellon community.

“Professor Davis treasured his colleagues and students as rare and special gifts,” Jackson said. “That’s something that should guide all of us who work in higher education.”