BRIEFLY

Rosemary Jackson, the director of alumni services for Vanguard

University, arrived at the school’s annual alumni awards luncheon ready

to award this year’s honoree. No one told her that this year’s honoree

was herself.

Unknown to Jackson, the alumni association board had voted to honor

her as the 2001 Alumnus of the Year. They were able to keep it from her

through an elaborate “hoax” until the real announcement at last month’s

luncheon.

Rosemary Jackson began her career at Vanguard University on May 21,

1965 as the secretary for the president of what was then Southern

California Bible College. She would serve three presidents before she was

elected as the first director of the college’s new alumni office, which

was introduced in October 1979. It was 1984, when Jackson, herself,

became an alumnus of Southern California College with a degree in

business.

In two decades since the alumni office was established under Jackson’s

leadership, the office has expanded immensely. Donor support has

increased from $17,000 to $356,000 in 2000 and the alumni database has

grown from 1,479 names to well over 12,000. Jackson, however, does not

take all of the credit. “It is the alumni who have really made our

association such a success -- how can I be rewarded for doing what I most

enjoy.”