Charles Jackson ’26 describes the path to his degree as anything but traditional.
Years ago, Jackson began his studies at a large state university, but his progress stalled in the first semester of his senior year during a challenging season of his life.
“For a long time, I wasn’t sure if I would ever go back to school,” he said.
The greater St. Louis native embarked on a career in customer service and financial administrative support. He interned for Northwestern Mutual, and he has worked for employers such as Citibank, Stifel Trust and now Focus Partners Wealth, where he is an operations specialist.
In 2016, Jackson enrolled at Columbia College as a student in the Evening Program to continue toward his diploma. As he waded deeper into corporate America and realized his desired career path, he later re-enrolled through the college’s Online Program in 2024, pressing on with an education intended to help him advance his career and broaden his community impact.
“Columbia College became the place where I walked back toward myself,” said Jackson, who earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the Robert W. Plaster School of Business during Spring 2026 Commencement on May 2. “Where returning wasn’t weakness – it was alignment.”
Jackson credits his time at Columbia College with teaching him more than just Business curriculum. There were big-picture lessons about how to balance priorities, how to ask for help and how to trust himself.
The flexibility of online classes presented an environment conducive to his schedule.
“Coming back as an online student, I was able to do classwork on my own time and it made things a lot more convenient,” Jackson said. “I had great professors, especially Dr. Jason Powers (Finance instructor). I loved him as an instructor.”
All the while, Jackson became a Dean’s List student who was dedicated to achieving his goal.
“For me it is about accomplishing something that I did not think was possible at one point,” Jackson said. “But after rebuilding and restructuring, I am reclaiming my time.”
Graduation day meant more to Jackson than words could fully express. His parents, Walter and Pamela, traveled to Columbia to celebrate the milestone.
To Jackson, the diploma represents resilience and the belief it’s never too late to rebuild your life.
“This degree is not just a credential,” he said. “It’s a symbol of the person I’ve become and the future I’m stepping into. And we’re just getting started.”
Jackson is preparing for his Certified Financial Planner and Chartered Financial Analyst exams. He began this summer in the Master of Business Administration program at Columbia College.
He has encouraged peers to go back to school like he did, serving as an ambassador for CC in the process.
“It’s been amazing and I’ve felt so much support here,” he said.
Rooted in strength, ambition and his support system at every turn, Jackson put his hard-earned bachelor’s degree into the context of his story, appreciating the opportunities it will create.
“It’s finishing a chapter, but it’s opening a whole new book,” he said.
Congratulations to you nephew 👏 💙