Q&A with sociology alumnus Chuck Jackson, M.A. '94, Ph.D. '14

Detroit native William Chuck Jackson has made a career out of serving others. A two-time Wayne State sociology alumnus, Jackson now serves as the department director for Wayne County Senior Services. In this Q&A, he reflects on his academic journey at WSU, the defining moments that shaped his career and the invaluable advice he has for aspiring social service professionals.

Hometown and high school: Detroit, MI, Cass Technical High School.

College degrees: B.S. Sociology, Minor in Math, M.A. Sociology and African American Studies,Ph.D. Sociology and Urban Studies.

Current role: Department director of Wayne County Department of Senior Services.

Tell us about your career path and what you find most fulfilling about your work

I began my academic career pursuing a degree in engineering. After three years of studies, I realized I did not want to be an engineer but did not know what I wanted to do.

I realized that I cared about people, and why we do what we do (and do not do). I came home for the summer and researched different fields of study and I believed sociology could provide me with many of the answers I sought. I soon switched majors from mechanical engineering to sociology.

During my last year of undergrad, I got a job working at a youth detention facility, primarily in the unit caring for children removed from home due to allegations of abuse and or neglect. This helped me land my first job after graduation, working for a large nonprofit social service organization.

I have spent my entire career in human/social service roles. In 2017, I became president of a Detroit nonprofit with three senior volunteer programs. This work, combined with my caretaker role for my mother, led me to focus more and more on the needs of our elderly population. I joined two boards focused entirely on older Americans and was fortunate to be selected as the new department director of Wayne County Senior Services in 2023.

After many years of working with children, adolescents and their families required to participate by courts in our programming, the most fulfilling aspect of my work is the sincere appreciation expressed by the older Americans for the nutritional services provided by our department.

Did you have a favorite WSU class or professor?   

Though other professors were wonderful scholars and teachers, my favorite WSU professor is Dr. David Merolla. Dr. Merolla is extremely personable, authentic, and cares deeply about the success of his students. When I met Dr. Merolla, my first impressions were that he took his work very seriously but did not take himself seriously. I am the same way, and I found his approach to teaching student-friendly unlike some professors that appear to make it all about themselves.

What were some of the defining experiences you had at Wayne State?

I believe connecting with a professor can make a big difference in your experience as a student. For me, it was connecting with Dr. Warshay during my master’s studies. We both loved baseball (although he loved the Yankees and I hated them). I enjoyed our many discussions about the great game. His support and encouragement were vital to my success as a master’s student.

Reflecting on your journey from student to professional, what are some unexpected challenges you faced? How did you overcome them?

As a full-time employee during my master’s and doctoral studies at WSU, time management was a big challenge. When I resumed my doctoral studies, I was given a finite time to complete my studies. By this time, I was a nonprofit executive responsible for programming in five locations covering two states. My work was mentally draining during the week, and I was mentally exhausted by the end of each workday.

You have no choice but to get it done when completing coursework, but after my coursework was finished it was much harder to find the motivation needed to study for exams or complete my dissertation. My strategy was to only focus on work during the week and dedicate my weekends and days off to completing my degree. I spent three years of weekends and days off studying and writing my dissertation. Of course, it was worth it and the only way I could be mentally fresh enough to focus as needed.

What advice would you give to students who aspire to work in human/social services?  

You must actually “give a damn” about people and genuinely want to help. If your primary motivation is financial reward, I would advise a different path. Also, plan to attend graduate school, many promotions leading to higher compensation require a master’s degree. Certainly, one can achieve a comfortable middle-class income in time without a master’s or doctoral degree but it will take a much longer time to do so.