Leadership Highlight: Morehouse College’s Student Government President Rollin “RJ” Jackson Jr.

In an effort to highlight the people who are leading colleges and universities across the nation, we at Watch The Yard reached out to Morehouse College  and did an interview with Rollin “RJ” Jackson Jr., the 2024-2025 Student Government Association president.

The position of SGA president is a highly respected role, and there is a special pride in being elected by peers to lead. Rollin “RJ” Jackson Jr. , who is majoring in Political Science/International Studies, is from St. Louis, MO and is a proud Spring 2023 initiate of Alpha Phi Alpha.

We interviewed RJ and talked to him about his position, goals, future, and what it means to hold this type of leadership position in 2024-2025.

Read the full interview below.

What is the biggest thing you’ve learned as an SGA president so far?

As SGA President, I would say the biggest lesson that I have learned so far has been that in order to take care of others, you have to first take care of yourself. I do not believe that this lesson solely belongs to the SGA President, but to all students regardless of their leadership title. I make sure that each and every day, I am doing things that cultivate me as a person. Whether that be spending time with my friends after office hours or in the cafe, listening to music, or lighting candles in my office, I make sure to pour into myself first, so that I can be the best brother and leader that my campus needs each and every day.

What made you decide to attend Morehouse for undergrad?

My path to Morehouse was not always certain. However, I will say that coming from a family that had 2 Morehouse graduates, My dad, Class of 1992 and my Uncle, Class of 2013, I longed for an experience of my own that would not only build myself up as an African American man, but offer me a brotherhood and bond that would last for a lifetime. I can truly say, that Morehouse has always and will always be in my heart for as long as I have been alive and for as long as I will live. I have met my life long brothers here. My best man, my 14 line brothers (shoutout the Redeemed!), the uncles to my kids, my groomsmen, and brothers that I will take with me for the rest of my life! I have to thank my parents, Rollin and Akesha Jackson, for truly pouring into me growing up, to guide me here and let me spread my wings each day.

How has Morehouse molded you into the person you are today?

Morehouse has shaped me into the person that I am today, because it has put a “crown” over my head that it challenges me each and every day, to grow tall enough to reach. Morehouse has shown me in more ways than I can count, the true effect that brotherhood, especially as an African American Man, can have on the soul. I can count on my brothers to help me celebrate my highs and reflect on my lows. My brothers help me not see things as “losses” but as “lessons.” As someone who grew up as an older brother to my sister Paige; (love you sis!!), I never had biological brothers. After attending and matriculating through Morehouse, I now tell me parents I have over 2600 brothers, from many different walks of life. The special part about us, is that we are all Men of Consequence, looking to step up and be the leaders and the Change that this world so desperately needs to see. Morehouse has also taught me that your TRUE “net worth” is your NETWORK. It is important as college students to build our networks in ways that are comfortable to us. I know that I myself made sure that I was always working in office hours to develop bonds with my teachers and other community figures that I met, so that when opportunities like Interning for UPS Global Public Affairs and for Senator Raphael Warnock (D-GA) came up, my teachers and mentors knew they could count on me to take those opportunities and create change in them.

What specific initiatives have you headed up this year (or are planning), and how do you think they will improve the school and surrounding community?

As I ran for SGA President, I ran on the platform of: “The C.R.O.W.N.” This stands for: Community, Restoration, Optimism, Welcoming (environment), and Nurturing. This year, in partnership with my amazing 93rd “Visionary” administration, I can truthfully say that we have worked tirelessly to ensure that students on our campus feel seen and supported. Whether that be through hosting the first annual “Back to My Roots” program, where I took 11 student leaders back to “my roots”, St. Louis, MO, to conduct a night of excellence at my High School, Chaminade College Preparatory School, for young students around the St. Louis and East St. Louis Communities, to our 70+ Registered Student Organizations requesting funds form our Executive and Senate Branches, or leading our “Morehouse Votes in Every Election” Campaign where we launched 3 months of voter mobilization and helped of 684 students vote on our campus in the State of GA, or even our Get on the Bus Program, where we took 50+ students to New Jersey and Recently to Philadelphia, PA, to share the Morehouse Mystique with High School and Middle School students in underserved communities. The Visionary Administration worked and will continue to work in ensuring that our students and our communities are supported.

How is your SGA administration/school currently working on attending to the mental health of students?

Our Student Government Association and School take our students mental health very seriously on campus. As someone who is a vocal advocate for therapy, and someone who also currently attends his own therapy sessions monthly, I, along with my administration and school, have worked to make Mental Health an approachable topic and conversation for ALL students, especially Black Men. Our Morehouse Counseling Office, located on campus, hosts an array of events from massage therapy, to drum therapy, too “mental health village” events each week, even offering sleep pods in the office for students to come and visit. All of these on top of normal counseling appointments with licensed therapists, that students can schedule. We are also fortunate to have Morehouse School of Medicine down the street from us, where student at Morehouse can schedule FREE (yes, free), therapy appointments with licensed counselors. I myself use this service, and the beauty of it is, we can log into our portal and schedule as many appointments as we want, as frequently as we want. It is past time to de-stigmatize the conversation of mental health in the black community, especially for our black men. Sometimes, traditional therapy might not be the best form of therapy for students. I have a brother, who host weekly conversations called “Sunday Sittings” where brothers can just gather and talk about any array of topics with each other. We host our “Sale Hall Sentiments” podcast, where students leaders from across campus, record tips and gems for our students to listen to, right out of our office. For some people, therapy might be: listening to music, taking a hike, being outdoors, grabbing a meal with friends, or even just sitting in silence. No matter what you do, make sure that YOU are taking care of YOU. Our mental health matters, we matter, and we must continue to lift each other up, and highlight resources for each other.

What does leadership mean to you?

To me, when I think of the word “leadership” I point back to a Latin phrase that I grew up learning as a Scout: “Primus inter pares” which means “First Among Equals.” In order to be a great leader, you must know how to be a servant leader. You must be willing to work FOR and WITH the people. Not just for yourself. As a leader, true leadership comes in the every day interactions that we have with people both on and off of our campuses. These small to large interactions, can truly leave a lasting impact on people. Often times, it is not the “physical” things left behind that make the biggest difference, but the way that you make people feel, that will carry your legacy of leadership on for years to come, and will keep your name in rooms you might not be in.

We now live in a digital world, what do you think schools need to do to represent themselves online in 2025?

I believe that in 2025, school need to continue to focus on their brand and marketing plans/strategies to ensure that their reach is globalized. Morehouse does an amazing job of making sure that students from all sects of the college are highlighted for their work both inside of and outside of the classroom. Morehouse also makes sure that the school has varying opportunities to further cultivate their brand through partnerships that include students. I myself have modeled for Polo Ralph Lauren and Vogue Magazine, both highlighting the importance of the Brand of Morehouse College. As we usher in an even more critical digital era, our institution’s brands and our own personal brands should continue to be at the top of the totem pole!

Why do you think Watch The Yard is important to Black students and college culture?

I believe that Watch The Yard is important to Black students and college culture, because it offers us, as the future leaders of our generation and untouchable space to gather and celebrate black excellence. Black excellence that drives this country forward in each and every way. When you name any specific field, there is an HBCU grad, a black student, or black leader leading and paving the way in said field. Watch The Yard offers us a platform to showcase our excellence each and every day, and offers us the space to be elevated and celebrated, instead of torn down.

What do you plan on doing after graduation?

After college, I will be moving to Washington, D.C. to obtain my masters in International Relations at John’s Hopkins Bloomberg University’s School of Advanced International Studies! This is the #2 school for International Studies in the United States.

We at Watch The Yard would like to commend RJ for his work as the SGA president of Morehouse College