Before a crowd of 100 Trent students, faculty and staff, the University’s newest chancellor, Dr. Tom Jackson, delivered a touching and inspirational talk on September 24 as part of the Pine Tree Lecture Series. It was Dr. Jackson’s inaugural lecture as Trent’s tenth chancellor, a role he was officially granted one day earlier as part of a double installation ceremony with new president and vice-chancellor Dr. Steven E. Franklin.
To open the talk, Dr. Jackson, an award-winning actor, producer, musician and social advocate, spoke about the “D and D Factor” – the important role dreams and determination play in one’s life. He went on to describe his life as a “homeless man and drug addict in recovery” and how one event changed his life forever.
Describing how one day he came across a man on the street whom he thought was dead and seeing how the world kept literally walking by, Dr. Jackson said he wondered, “What if it were me and the world just passed me by as I lay dying on the street. It shook me to the bone…I decided then that I needed a different addiction so I became addicted to savings lives. It changed my world.”
Today, Dr. Jackson, along with his wife, Allison, are involved in a number of charities and charitable initiatives. Together they have raised over $100 million for food services, to help feed the hungry.
Shifting to a discussion of his role as Trent chancellor, Dr. Jackson proudly said, “I am going to help you. You can talk through me.” He also shared his dreams of making a university education more accessible for all people and his desire to “bring others to your institution, to your safe place here at Trent.”
Picking up his guitar, the chancellor then entertained the crowd by singing three songs, stating first that ““this instrument is way more powerful than a bullet will ever be…it’s an instrument of change.”
Throughout the three-song set, Dr. Jackson told stories about his life, his brother, and his life. At the end of his talk, he gave the audience a piece of memorable advice:
“You don’t have to change the whole world,” he said. “You only have to change your own – there will be a ripple effect, I promise you.”
For more information about Dr. Jackson, visit the chancellor website.
Posted on Monday, September 28, 2009.