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Heather Wilcox has been promoted to director for the Center for University-Based Development (CUBD). CUBD is a Jackson State University initiative that assists with the re-development of the one-mile area around the main campus. Opportunities are also reviewed to facilitate improvement around other JSU campuses.
“I started this journey as an intern almost ten years ago and worked through the ranks at CUBD,” says Wilcox. My efforts at CUBD have allowed me to acquire a vast amount of information regarding the community and understanding its history and how that correlates to the city of Jackson.”
“Heather has spent a great deal of her career in CUBD building relationships within the West Jackson community,” says Veronica Cohen, vice president for Institutional Advancement and External Affairs. “She is driven, compassionate and her love for historic preservation, geographic information systems and community and economic development, both here and abroad is unmatched.”
Since working in CUBD, Wilcox has consistently demonstrated her passion through many extraordinary efforts such as enhancing the West Jackson Neighborhood Association, spearheading “The Little Free Libraries of West Jackson” which assisted with promoting literacy among students through a free book exchange,and the “Blackburn Middle School Learning Garden” which promotes healthy living among students and their families.
Wilcox also lead efforts to preserve the Mt. Olive Cemetery and initiated the first crop drop at JSU where members of the community picked-up local grown watermelons and bags of sweet potatoes.
“I plan to continue using my knowledge and experience from CUBD to positively impact the area by working closely with the neighborhoods surrounding Jackson State,” says Wilcox.
“Heather has the skill set to build productive relationships, implement effective collaboration, communication, and the ability to influence her team through self-demonstrated passion and community service,” says Cohen.
Wilcox obtained a bachelor’s degree from the University of Kansas in women’s studies, a master’s degree from JSU in urban and regional planning and she is currently a Ph.D. candidate in urban and regional planning program at JSU. Her concentration is community development and housing.
“Heather fosters a spirit of excellence in all that she does. She is both a leader and team player who believes in the purpose and mission of higher education,” says Cohen. Heather and people like her are an extraordinary asset to JSU and the city of Jackson.”