Speaker Profile

Mark Jackson joined Northwestern in 2024 and is currently the Combe Family Vice President for Athletics and Recreation, overseeing 19 varsity sports with more than 500 student-athletes, plus recreational and intramural programs.

Prior to joining Northwestern, Jackson served as the Vice President and Director of Athletics at Villanova University. Under his leadership, Villanova Athletics saw 14 of its varsity sports programs compete in their respective NCAA tournaments, including the men's basketball team celebrating two national championships (2016, 2018). Villanova won 39 conference championships during Jackson's tenure.

Jackson was named a winner of the Under Armour AD of the Year Award in 2020 by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA). He has led initiatives to encourage student-athletes to reach new academic goals and spurred growth through fundraising and development efforts. 

Before taking the helm at Villanova, Jackson served as senior associate director of athletics and chief innovation officer at University of Southern California and as executive senior associate athletic director at Syracuse University. He oversaw capital projects, fundraising campaigns and varsity program operations and development.

He has previous experience at the professional level with the Oakland Raiders and the New England Patriots, serving as Director of Football Development with Oakland from 2007 to 2008 and as a coaching assistant with New England for three seasons from 1998 to 2000.

Jackson was born in Boston, Mass. He was a student-athlete at Colby College in Waterville, Maine where he played defensive back for the Mules. He received his bachelor's degree in government from Colby and a master's degree in public policy from Trinity College. Jackson and his wife, Tricia, are parents to four children: Grace, Hannah, Kevin and Sean.