Tom Jackson, Jr. became Cal Poly Humboldt’s eighth president in May 2019. He previously served as president of Black Hills State University in South Dakota and has held other leadership roles within higher education, including vice president for Student Affairs at both the University of Louisville and Texas A&M University-Kingsville.

Jackson has also held administrative positions at McMurry University, University of Texas at El Paso, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, the University of Southern California and St. Mary’s University.

A first-generation student, Jackson is also a veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve, Army National Guard, Texas State Guard and Indiana Guard Reserve.