In recognition and celebration of Black History Month, Seminole State College will host a special program featuring guest speaker Joyce Jackson – founder of SHADES of Oklahoma magazine and the first female African American Newscaster in Oklahoma. The event will take place next Thursday, February 8 at 11:15 a.m. inside the Jeff Johnston Auditorium on campus and is free and open to the public.

During the program, Jackson will be speaking on “Overcoming Obstacles,” and will discuss barriers she has faced in her own life and career. Jackson holds a bachelor’s degree in broadcasting from the University of Central Oklahoma. She is a former award-winning broadcast journalist, producer and talk show host for KOCO –TV in Oklahoma City. Jackson also worked as a professional model for 20 years and was also the owner of Scorpion Enterprise, a modeling/charm school and Faces, Fingers & Feet, a full-service beauty salon.

Jackson worked for the Oklahoma Department of Corrections (ODOC) as the Public Information Officer and later as the Public Relations Officer from 1982 until 1997 when she left the agency to become the Communications Director for the Illinois Department of Corrections. During her tenure in corrections, Jackson served as a Media Consultant/ Trainer for the Department of Justice, National Institute of Corrections from 1988 – 2009.  Jackson returned to the ODOC as the Executive Communications Administrator and later retired from the organization in October 2014.

In 2015, Jackson founded the SHADES of Oklahoma magazine, a quarterly publication designed to expand the need for more media representation and enhance the knowledge of Oklahoma’s African American community.

For questions or more information about the program, contact NASNTI Engagement Specialist Kay Wallace at 405-382-9646 or by email at k.wallace@sscok.edu.