Jackson Family Supports Land of Opportunity Scholarship for Arkansas Students

Denese and Dr. William Jackson have committed $25,000 to the University of Arkansas Land of Opportunity Scholarship endowment. The gift will support Arkansas students by addressing the critical funding gap that can limit access to higher education.

The Land of Opportunity Scholarship campaign, a three-year initiative launched in November 2024, seeks to expand educational access for students from all 75 Arkansas counties.

"The Jacksons truly care about supporting our students," said Kim Needy, dean of the College of Engineering. "Whether through their generous contribution to the Land of Opportunity Scholarship fund or Denese's guidance on our Dean's Advisory Council, they consistently demonstrate their commitment to giving back to our university."

For the Jacksons, who both hail from the Delta region, their education at the U of A had a transformative impact on their lives, and they feel motivated to help provide the same opportunity to others from similar backgrounds.

"We were motivated because we benefited from the opportunity to attend the university, and we want to help others from the Delta and across Arkansas,” Denese said. "There's a lot of folks there who really can benefit from a degree from the University of Arkansas if they have some support resource-wise, and we feel the Land of Opportunity Scholarship is that support."

“The Jacksons are proof that talented, ambitious Arkansas students can achieve extraordinary things when given the opportunity,” said Chancellor Charles Robinson. “We are deeply grateful that they are turning the success they experienced after graduating from the U of A into meaningful support for students across our state." 

A MEETING THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING

Denese, from West Helena, and William, from the Lake Village area, met on Denese's first day at the U of A after she transferred from a private college. They were assigned as organic chemistry lab partners; she was a sophomore studying chemical engineering, and he was a senior preparing for optometry school.

"For us, it's confirmation that we were supposed to be at the University of Arkansas," Denese said.

Denese had initially attended a private college on a dean's scholarship, but a $2,500 loan, which “felt like a million dollars at the time”, weighed heavily on her mind. After working at an engineering company in Detroit the summer after her freshman year, shadowing engineers, she transferred to the U of A and declared chemical engineering as her major. To avoid taking on additional debt, Denese worked as a resident assistant for three years, which covered her room and board.

William earned a Doctor of Optometry degree from Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, and has built a successful career in optometry. Denese has enjoyed a successful career with the Dow Chemical Company and recently launched The Better Life in Sight Foundation to support the community.

STAYING CONNECTED

The couple's connection to the university has remained strong through the decades with Denese recruiting U of A engineering students to Dow Chemical and now serving on the College of Engineering Dean's Advisory Council.

“When you leave, you just think, ‘I’m ready to get out of here and start working,’” Denese said. “But coming back and seeing young people with that same light in their eyes reminded me why this place is so special.”

Serving on the Dean's Advisory Council gave Denese a broader perspective on the university's vision and mission.

"You get to see the big picture and the vision for where we're going," she said. "It just gives me more information to be able to share with the next generation about why STEM education is so important."

REMOVING BARRIERS

The Jacksons see value in the Land of Opportunity Scholarship not only in the tuition assistance, but also in the services provided to support students with personal mentorship, financial guidance and career coaching.

“The Jacksons’ generosity will change lives and strengthen communities,” said Scott Varady, vice chancellor for advancement. “Their commitment to helping Arkansas students, especially those from the Delta, embodies the very heart of the Land of Opportunity Scholarship.”

The Jacksons' gift joins contributions from industry leaders and families across the state in building a $200 million endowment to ensure that Arkansas students have access to the transformative power of higher education.

"I hope this scholarship will represent the fact that there are so many bright students throughout Arkansas, and especially in the Delta, that need to know that they can pursue their dreams," Denese said. "This scholarship would potentially limit some of those hurdles that they have and hopefully lighten the load a little bit so students can focus on their schoolwork and other priorities."

About the Land of Opportunity Scholarship: The Land of Opportunity Scholarship campaign is a three-year initiative to further educational access opportunities for students from all 75 counties in Arkansas, improve graduation rates, create two-way engagement between the university and businesses throughout the state, and fulfill the institution’s land-grant mission to uplift Arkansas. As of Nov. 30, 2025, the campaign has raised 68% of its goal in 36% of the time through more than $136,817,585 in pledges and commitments.

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $3 billion to Arkansas’ economy  through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research and Economic Development News.