Dean Patrice Jackson, Ph.D., announced Wednesday that she will be leaving Georgia Southern University to take a position at Albany State University.

Jackson made the announcement at the first Student Government Association meeting of the semester that she has accepted the position of ASU’s vice president of student affairs.

Jackson’s last day at GS will be September 21 and she will officially take up her new position at ASU on October 1. 

“I am very excited about a new journey, but also, my heart is broken to leave Georgia Southern,” Jackson said. “This is my eleventh year, I grew up here, I learned how to be a counselor here.”

Jackson was hired at GS in October 2002 as the assistant dean of students. She later became associate dean of students of judicial affairs in 2008. In January 2012 she served as GS’s interim dean of students but was promoted to dean of students in May 2012.

Jackson was active in the GS community by attending public events such being a panelist on GS’s first “State of Black GSU.” Jackson served a major role following GS’s consolidation with Armstrong State and Liberty by taking on the title of associate vice president along with the dean of students position.

“As a result of her work with Georgia Southern University, we are a better University and our students have benefited from her service,” Georj Lewis, Ph.D., vice president for Student Affairs, said in an email.

Once the announcement was made on The George-Anne’s Twitter, several members of the GS community expressed their thoughts on Jackson leaving.

{{tncms-inline account=”Don Juan” html=”<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Wow. I'm so happy for her but so sad for us at the same time. I know she gone go on to do great thangs at Albany State & make a real difference <a href="https://t.co/VqpjKS26En">https://t.co/VqpjKS26En</a></p>— Don Juan (@GhostAGDOPE) <a href="https://twitter.com/GhostAGDOPE/status/1032427810701410304?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 23, 2018</a></blockquote>” id=”https://twitter.com/GhostAGDOPE/status/1032427810701410304″ type=”twitter”}}

{{tncms-inline account=”Dylan John” html=”<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I know we are all going to dearly miss my "Momma Dean". A true advocate for students <a href="https://twitter.com/GeorgiaSouthern?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GeorgiaSouthern</a> and an amazing inspiration!! While I am crying at you leaving, I am excited for your new journey <a href="https://twitter.com/AlbanyStateUniv?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AlbanyStateUniv</a> as VP <a href="https://twitter.com/DeanPBJackson?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DeanPBJackson</a> <a href="https://t.co/BvOPE6SQSv">https://t.co/BvOPE6SQSv</a></p>— Dylan John (@dylanjohnSL) <a href="https://twitter.com/dylanjohnSL/status/1032410989763997697?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 22, 2018</a></blockquote>” id=”https://twitter.com/dylanjohnSL/status/1032410989763997697″ type=”twitter”}}

{{tncms-inline account=”🌟 maci 🌟” html=”<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Dean Jackson will be so so missed on campus!!! <a href="https://t.co/yPKk1o3pS8">https://t.co/yPKk1o3pS8</a></p>— 🌟 maci 🌟 (@spaceymaci) <a href="https://twitter.com/spaceymaci/status/1032412013430009858?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 22, 2018</a></blockquote>” id=”https://twitter.com/spaceymaci/status/1032412013430009858″ type=”twitter”}}

Jackson discussed what she would miss the most when she leaves to begin her new job at ASU.

“I always say my students because I consider all of you mine and I try to serve you in that way,” Jackson said. “When you invest your heart like that, it’s very painful. It has been my honor to serve.”

Brendan Ward contributed to this article. 

McClain Baxley, The George-Anne Sports Editor, gasports@georgiasouthern.edu

Matthew Enfinger, The George-Anne Editor-in-Chief, gaeditor@georgiasouthern.edu.