In a mass email sent out to the entire University community Monday afternoon, Murray State president Bob Jackson announced his retirement effective June 30, 2025.
Jackson will continue his employment as president emeritus and help with a transition and serve as a special adviser to the Board of Regents, according to the statement.
Jackson has served as president of the University since Aug. 7, 2018 and has held various administrative roles including president of the Murray State University Foundation. Jackson’s leadership helped focus on student recruitment and retention, bringing in new academic programs, helped get construction started on a new Nursing and Health Professions building, a veterinary science building, funding and designing of a new residential hall and learning commons and the recent acquisition of Station 74.
Jackson also focused on campus improvement, preserving of historical buildings around campus such as Lovett Auditorium, Wrather Museum, Curris Center, the bronze statues of Racer One and Dr. John W. Carr, the development of Woods Park amongst others.
“Serving as President of my Alma Mater has been a lifetime honor and the capstone to my professional career,” Jackson said. “I am deeply grateful for this opportunity. But, everything and everyone has a season, and Karen and I are looking forward to spending more time with family and friends, traveling, and enjoying our next chapter of life.”
Jackson focused much of his professional career in higher education and as a state senator. In addition, a School of Veterinary Medicine continues to be planned, along with a Medical School campus in partnership with the University of Louisville. The University was recently named the #1 Best Value School in the South by U.S News and World Report.
“The future is very bright and many opportunities remain in front of us,” Jackson said.
During his tenure, Jackson guided Murray State through the pandemic, has overseen many significant changes such as new academic buildings, celebrating the centennial of Murray State University and co-authored the centennial history of the University titled The Finest Place We Know. He oversaw the launch of a $100 million centennial capital campaign which has raised over $90 million.
The Board will begin a search for his successor.
A complete copy of Jackson retirement letter and selected list of accomplishments for the University will be available on the President’s Office website following a special Board of Regents meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 1.
Chair Leon Owens said Jackson’s retirement has left a lasting mark.
“Dr. Jackson’s retirement marks the end of a historic period of leadership, change and innovation for Murray State University,” Owens said. ” We have three new buildings either under construction or in a planning stage, totaling nearly $150 million along with deferred maintenance projects, campus improvements and facility enhancements totaling over $100 million coupled with important academic enhancements.”
Jackson is a former Kentucky state senator and president of the Murray State University Foundation, Inc. Karen is a retired registered nurse and both are alumni of the University. They are the parents of Nolan Jackson and his wife Nikki, and Mariel Jackson Gibson and her husband, Dr. Andrew Gibson, all of whom reside in Washington, D.C.
