The Final Exam is your chance to get to know leaders in the industry. For the July/August 2025 issue, Campus Rec Magazine spoke with Jerrod Jackson, the director of MizzouRec Services & Facilities at University of Missouri.
1. How did you get started in the industry?
As a freshman, I saw an ad in the school newspaper for intramural basketball officials at University of Texas at Austin. I jumped at the opportunity because I had officiated peewee basketball in my hometown and thought it would be fun. The rest is history. From the University of Texas at Austin to Georgia Southern University for graduate school and then on to my career at Texas A&M University, the University of Tennessee, Louisiana State University, University of Nebraska-Lincoln and now the University of Missouri.
2. How would you go about describing campus recreation at the University of Missouri?
Our vision is simple, we want to be the best part of a Tiger’s day. That starts with the moment they enter our facility to the moment they leave. Smile, greet and pay attention to every patron. Listen to our students’ needs and then respond to help make their experience the best it can be. We have great support from university leadership and buy in to what we’re doing.
3. What has been one of the biggest challenges you have faced throughout your career?
The biggest challenge for me has been the more you move up, the less you interact with the students. I got into this profession because I loved working with students and now, I’ve just had to shift my focus to realize even the things I do now affect them every day. You find new joys by seeing your staff shine and excel where it used to be your students.
4. What has been one of the biggest accomplishments of your career?
I’ve had plenty, but my biggest accomplishment is the success of those I’ve impacted. To have so many of my former students — specifically from Texas A&M — excelling in the field of recreation is my biggest joy. I love watching them grow, impact our profession and shine their own light. That’s where I believe I’ve accomplished the most.
5. What is one lesson you have learned that other recreation professionals might benefit from?
This is more focused on moving up to higher positions. The biggest lesson I’ve learned is you don’t have to be an expert in every area you supervise. When you move up to mid-level and upper level management you must realize you no longer have to be, or even should be, the expert. Learning that can lead to your promotion being the most fulfilling and satisfying moment in your career.
6. What is one fun fact about yourself others may not know?
I’m going to go a big negative here because it’s funny, but I have a huge fear of bridges. I don’t like driving across them at all. There have been times I’ve pulled over to the side of the road and got my passenger to drive across. They scare the hell out of me and standstill traffic on a bridge causes me to sweat profusely.
