Dominican University is proud to welcome Kamara Jackson as the incoming Senior Director of Career Programs and Employer Relations (CPER). A respected higher education leader, Kamara brings over 17 years of experience in career development, employer engagement, and inclusive student success strategies. She has a proven record of transforming career services operations, securing major philanthropic and corporate grants, and building strategic partnerships that enhance student career readiness and economic mobility.
Kamara most recently served as Director of the Career Center at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, where she led a 14-member team in redesigning campus-wide career integration efforts. Under her leadership, UTRGV secured over $500,000 in funding from organizations such as Google, Sam’s Club, and Enterprise Mobility to support initiatives including a professional clothing closet, DEI-centered mentorship programs, and expanded access to career education for first-generation students.
Her professional journey also includes impactful leadership roles at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Illinois Institute of Technology, and Chicago State University. Throughout her career, Kamara has been a champion of diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education and has received multiple recognitions, including the San Antonio Business Journal Diversity & Inclusion Award. In her new role at Dominican University, Kamara will report to Sheila Bauer-Gatsos in Academic Affairs, where she will lead efforts to strengthen employer partnerships, elevate career planning services, and create innovative pathways to student success that reflect Dominican’s mission and commitment to social justice. The CPER team looks forward to her leadership as they continue to support all students at Dominican.
Please join us in welcoming Kamara Jackson to the Dominican University community!
Warmly,
Mia Hardy, PhD
Provost | Academic Affairs
