Jennifer Bailey-Jackson, JPS executive director of Talent Acquisition, Learning and Organizational Development, comes from a family that emphasizes the importance of education, always doing your best and refraining from “following the crowd.” She remembers her father, an educator and minister, reviewing the Pythagorean Theorem with her and her siblings, as a normal and frequent dinnertime conversation. So it’s no surprise that she has detoured from a traditional nursing career to one that incorporates strategic planning, administration and education. She has spent much of her career dedicated to making sure that health care employees and leaders reach their highest potential, a benefit to them and to their organizations.
In her role, she leads a team of JPS directors and managers to implement strategies to hire, train and develop a talented workforce.
“My passion is developing people, ensuring we all are the best we can be to serve others” she says.
Her mother, father, three siblings and her two children all attended Oakwood College, a historically black college in Huntsville, Ala., which changed its name in 2007 to Oakwood University. She earned an Associate of Science in Nursing degree from Oakwood, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from the University of Texas at Arlington and Master of Science in Nursing degree from Texas Woman’s University.
Jennifer is married to Larry; together they enjoy traveling and are self-proclaimed foodies, always in search of the next best restaurant.
“Education is the key that unlock doors to opportunity, as well as the freedoms of thinking, being and doing,” she says. “I wanted to be a part of helping others find their key.”