CHADRON – Chadron State College alumnus Dr. Jake Kirkland Jr. of Lincoln will be honored with the Distinguished Alumni Award.
He will receive the award during CSC's Homecoming on Oct. 19.
Kirkland earned a bachelor’s degree in education in 1973 and a master’s degree in Educational/Counseling Psychology from the University of Nebraska—Lincoln in 1981. His dissertation studied college students’ perceptions of classroom experiences and environments as related to Diversity and Multiculturalism. Kirkland earned a doctorate in Adult Education with an emphasis in Community and Human Resources from UNL in 2002.
He began his career in the Office of Career Services at the University of Nebraska-Omaha as a Career Counselor from 1981 to 1986. From 1986 to 1987, Kirkland was an advisor and counselor where he provided academic advising for undergraduate students and personal, social, career, and mental health counseling for undergraduates, graduates, and staff.
At UNL’s Counseling Center from 1986 to 1992, he helped students with academic, personal, social, and career-related issues and concerns. He became the center’s coordinator from 1991 to 1992. He was also a counselor with UNL’s Career Planning and Placement Services from 1992 to 1993.
After serving as the Assistant Director of Career Services from 1992 to 2014, Kirkland became the Interim Assistant to the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs from 2015 to 2016. During this time, he also served as the Interim Director of the Jackie Gaughan Multicultural Center and Office of Academic Success and Intercultural Services.
Kirkland’s professional affiliations include the Nebraska Counseling Association. He was a member from 1977 to 2016 and chaired the Human Rights Committee from 1994 to 2015. He has been a member of several other state and national associations affiliated with career and academic counseling.
He has received more than 30 honors and awards related to his professional and volunteer work. Kirkland’s scholarly contributions include articles about job seeking and resume advice for high school seniors.
He has presented, co-presented, or participated in panels at numerous leadership, counseling, and college admissions symposiums. He has also given talks about goal-setting to elementary and middle school children.
Additionally, Kirkland has assisted in planning and organizing conferences related to multicultural counseling, academic success, diversity, career exploration, and institutional team building.
In his community, Kirkland has been a member of the Lincoln Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People from 1988 to the present and served on the Voter Registration Outreach Committee from 2019 to the present. He has assisted with the annual Reverend Dr. Martin Luther Youth Rally for nearly 20 years. He has also been a volunteer with Cornhusker State Games and Big Brothers and Sisters.
Recipients of the Distinguished Alumni Award must have attended CSC for at least two years or earned at least 60 hours and have demonstrated exceptional service to the college and distinguished themselves in their career or their community through volunteer efforts.
-Tena L. Cook