The Office of Intercultural Engagement and Belonging will put on its second alumni event of the semester. This year, they kicked off the first Annual Alumni Speaking Series, bringing alumni from different career paths back to Abilene to speak with students. 

Thurmond Metters, director of Multicultural Student Engagement, said the idea for this series originated from Dr. Phil Schubert, president of the university, with the vision of reconnecting alumni with students. 

“What we’re trying to do is to create these intentional spaces where students can hear from people who’ve walked the path that they’re on right now,” Metters said. 

The first event in the series welcomed Jason Gonzalez back to campus. Gonzalez is a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist and was a first-generation college student when he attended ACU.

“He was able to, with a supportive community and with the help of others, successfully navigate not only school but get his certifications,” Metters said. “Just hearing his story meant so much to our students, and he also represents the ACU difference.”

For the second event of the semester, Courtney Jackson, a 2002 graduate, will return to talk to students about her time at ACU and her career since then. 

At ACU, Jackson majored in Psychology and was involved with Essence of Ebony, which is now known as the Black Student Union. Every February, the organization would put on a production in honor of Black History Month. Jackson joined in a producing role as a freshman and found her passion for telling stories and developing productions. 

Jackson is now a development executive at Undisputed Cinema in Los Angeles, California, where she helps determine the projects the studio works on. She has worked on a variety of films and TV shows, including Get on the Bus, Swagger, and season four of Genius.

“It’s just your instincts and finding a great idea that you are passionate about that feels like it has something to say, that has like a why or a meaning,” Jackson said. 

Jackson said she hopes students will be encouraged by her story and will see how God can work in their time at ACU. 

“Hopefully, it’ll just kind of be an opportunity to have them be encouraged that there is definitely work that’s happening while they’re students,” Jackson said.

The event will take place on April 21 at 11 a.m. It will be in the Packer Forum in the Brown Library, and lunch will be provided along with Chapel credit. Students can RSVP for the event through the Google Form.