Debra L. Jackson, Ph.D.

Dr. Jackson joined East Carolina University as Dean of the Graduate School in 2024. Prior to this role, she served in the California State University system for 22 years during which time she secured over $7M in funds to support student success including a five-year grant from the Department of Education for “Promoting Excellence in Graduate Education and Increasing Hispanic STEM Related Degree Completion,” received the 2023 Award for Innovation in Promoting Success in Graduate Education from the Council of Graduate Schools for a system-wide program titled “The Next Step: Building Career Readiness Among Graduate Schools across the CSU,” and served on the Executive Board of the Western Association of Graduate Schools.

Dr. Jackson earned her Ph.D. in philosophy from Purdue University and her B.A. in philosophy from Middle Tennessee State University. Her research addresses ethical, political, and epistemological issues regarding sexual violence against women. She has published essays addressing the hermeneutical challenges of recognizing rape, the recognitive features of the #MeToo movement, the ethics of witnessing trauma, and the representation of gender, race, and sexuality in popular media.

Dr. Jackson lives with her husband, youngest daughter and four cats. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, camping, sewing, and completing puzzles. Having already visited 14, she intends to visit all 63 U.S. National Parks in her lifetime.