MSU alumnus Dr. Sean Jackson receives prestigious Lee W. Cochran Internship

Dr. Sean Jackson (07) of Tollesboro has been a leader in and out of the classroom as both a computer science teacher and co-chief information officer at Mason County Schools in Maysville. Now, his education and expertise are being applied in a way that could have an impact far beyond his home state. 

Jackson recently was selected as one of the recipients of the Lee W. Cochran Internship, which is part of the Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT).  

The internship is named for Lee W. Cochran, a groundbreaking educator in developing audiovisual materials and resources to improve teaching instruction. It is awarded to graduate students or new professionals in the field.  

The internship was developed through the AECT Foundation for the AECT Conference Internship Program, which is designed to identify individuals with the significant potential to provide future leadership for AECT and in the broader field. 

After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in history from Wabash College in Crawfordville, Indiana, Jackson came to MSU to earn a Master of Arts in Teaching in Secondary Social Studies in 2007, a Master of Arts in Instructional Leadership in 2012 and an Ed.D. in Educational Technology Leadership in 2018. He has been an educator with Mason County Schools since 2005, first serving as a high school social studies teacher before holding his current positions. 

Jackson was encouraged to apply for the internship by Dr. John Curry, associate professor of education and doctoral committee chair, in MSU’s Department of Foundational and Graduate Studies Education.  

Jackson and other interns will be attending the AECT convention this October in Las Vegas. The convention will include coordinated programming that includes various activities, professional development sessions and events featuring leaders from the association and the field. Each intern will also participate as a member of the AECT Leadership Development Committee during the year leading up to and including the organization’s 2020 convention.  

Through this internship, Jackson will be able to collaborate with experienced researchers and junior faculty at major universities in both the U.S. and overseas. He hopes lending his voice and experience will help further innovate the field of educational technology to benefit classrooms around the world, as well as his own students. 

“As technology becomes more incorporated into the ecosystem of education and its institutions, I think it is important to have representation from the P-12 realm when conducting research and backing policy initiatives,” Jackson said. “Being involved in AECT’s leadership structure will help me stay on top of the latest research and trends in the field so I can apply that to my work as our district’s instructional technology leader.” 

For more information on MSU’s Doctor of Education program, contact the Department of Foundational and Graduate Studies Education at 606-783-2261, email fgse@moreheadstate.edu or visit www.moreheadstate.edu/fgse.