Chancellor Arrick Jackson Reflects on Military Experience

Arrick Jackson, Chancellor of Indiana University Northwest, attributes his military discipline to his success in higher education. ‘That military discipline helped me navigate challenging times,’ Jackson commented during a live interview.

Speaking with Patrick Russell, founder and director of the Making History Project, Jackson discussed his six-year service with the U.S. Army. The conversation was part of Indiana University’s Veterans Week events on November 11, 2026. The Making History Project aims to preserve veterans’ stories through video oral history interviews that are archived in the U.S. Library of Congress.

During the interview, Russell, who has conducted over 100 veteran interviews, asked about Jackson’s upbringing. Jackson was born and raised in Saginaw, Michigan. He joined the military in 1987 and served twice, first as an airborne officer in field artillery and then as a noncommissioned officer in military intelligence. Jackson reached the rank of sergeant.

He explained that both his biological parents passed away when he was young. After losing his mother to murder and his father to a heart attack, he felt a strong need for self-reliance. ‘No 9- or 10-year-old should have to say that to themselves,’ he reflected.

Despite having other family members in the military, it didn’t visibly influence him due to the Vietnam War’s societal backlash. Jackson graduated high school at 16, and he recalled his adoptive mother’s insistence on schooling him for a year before he could enlist.

Sharing a vivid memory, Jackson recalled telling his mother he was joining the army: ‘On Monday, I informed her, and I was leaving by Friday.’ His mother responded by dismantling his bed, symbolizing her acceptance of his decision. Jackson joked that military life wasn’t much different from life with his mother.

He described his airborne training experience as thrilling. ‘I’ve never experienced anything that quiet,’ he remembered. However, he requested to leave the unit due to safety concerns; his request was denied by an officer stating, ‘Quit is not in the vocabulary of an airborne soldier.’

Jackson later enlisted again to join military intelligence, serving in Germany and Korea. In Korea, he volunteered at an orphanage, which inspired him to return to school for higher education and eventually earn his doctorate.

Education has a crucial role in democracy, Jackson emphasized during the interview. An educated population strengthens the nation. His mother’s focus on the importance of education taught Jackson and his siblings the value of civic engagement.

Russell concluded by acknowledging Jackson’s contributions. ‘You wanted your children to know you made a difference,’ Russell said. ‘Mission accomplished, Dr. Jackson.’