Fund: Professor Maurice Jackson Endowed Scholarship Fund Department: Sociology Dept D01031 Purpose: Graduate Student Support History and Purpose: Dr. Maurice Jackson (1925-1987) was an internationally recognized black scholar whose life-long passion was the elimination of racism in society. He was valedictorian at Anderson Township High School in Ohio, an all-white school in an all-white community, and he began his academic career in math and physics at the University of Cincinnati. Unable to gain employment in labs as a third-year student, coupled with his emerging insights into society led him to abandon the sciences and pursue a career in sociology. Professor Jackson received his BA Summa Cum Laude from UCLA in 1957 and went on to receive his MA (1958) and PhD (1966) from the same institution. He taught at California State San Diego and the University of Oregon at Eugene before coming to UC Riverside as a Lecturer in July 1965. He became a full-time professor on July 1, 1980. Although Dr. Jackson taught a wide range of courses including Deviance, Research methods and Statistics, Social Psychology, and Ethnic Relations, his overriding interest and expertise lay in Sociological Theory, Ethnicity and Racism. He especially enjoyed teaching classical sociological theory where he applied the work of theorists such as Weber, Marx, Durkheim, and Simmel to contemporary social issues. His theory of ethnicity is a major contribution in merging theory with race relations research. Among his professional achievements were his service as the first executive specialist for women and minorities for the American Sociological Association (ASA), founding Chair of UCR's Black Studies Department, Chair of UCR's Ethnic Studies, and Vice President of the National Council on Aging (NCOA). Professor Jackson's life and scholarly career were devoted to teaching undergraduate and graduate students. His concern, kindness and generosity always combined with challenging racism, social injustice, and social intolerance. His love for teaching, and his efforts on behalf of minority students led him to develop the ASA's Minority Fellowship Program. The Maurice Jackson Scholarship provides awards to black graduate sociology students, mature women sociology students, or graduate sociology students with financial hardship. Income from this endowment shall provide students assistance in the form of scholarships. Selection and Guidelines: For awards to Sociology students who are black graduate students, mature women students, or graduate students with financial hardship and who have exausted all financial resources. Scholarship selection committee meets once a year and includes a representative of the Maurice Jackson family, a member of the Sociology Dept (with preference to a minority) and an at-large member approved by the Dean. The committee elects its chair. Request for Information: Cathy Carlson Management Services Officer