Dr. Phyllis Jackson serves as Associate Dean for the Office of Scholar Programs, home of the university’s merit scholars programs: the Danforth, Ervin, McLeod, and Rodriguez Programs. She also oversees the Office of Military and Veteran Services and serves as the university liaison to the Gateway Battalion Army ROTC program. Phyllis has been with the university for more than 30 years, and prior to joining the Office of Scholar Programs, served as Associate Director for Event Management in Campus Life.

Phyllis has also served on several committees at the university, among those are the Dr. Martin Luther King Commemoration Committee, the McLeod Honors and Awards Committee, the Student Affairs Assessment Council, the Student Conduct Judicial Board, and the University Sexual Assault Investigation Board. Phyllis is a member of the 2015 cohort for the university’s Professional Leadership Academy and Network (PLAN), and later served as part of the PLAN leadership team, the 2017 recipient of the Gloria W. White Distinguished Service Award, and the 2021-2022 Student Affairs “W” Award recipient.

Phyllis is an alumna of the University of Missouri – St. Louis where she received her Bachelor’s in Business Administration and her Ed. D in Heritage Leadership. Her research focused on exclusionary discipline, it’s inequitable application for students of color, and the impact on the school to prison pipeline.