The Start at UMD
Jay and JL (JL is pronounced Jay-El. It stands for Jody Leigh.) hardly knew each other at UMD. Jay studied communication (’86) and was the skating hockey mascot, the Maroon Loon. He was so good at bringing out fans, he received a three-year scholarship for his efforts.
JL graduated from UMD with an undergraduate degree in education in 1986. She met and married Jay, and earned her master’s degree in training and development from the UMN-Twin Cities in 1994.
Life with Zoom
After landing the sales position with Zoom, life went into hyperdrive. Jay’s first sales were large. “I sold Michigan State. That was 45,000 licenses,” he says. “Then I landed Brigham Young University, another 40,000 licenses.” Word was getting out, and the contracts were “starting to really add up…I had clients coming to me.”
Jay stayed with Zoom for six years. He concentrated primarily on educational institutions and healthcare networks. He’s proud to have played a part in, as he says, “The highest quality unified meeting experience to the world at large.”
Experiential Learning
Jay and JL haven’t stopped making a difference. They recently presented a gift to UMD to use for experiential learning offerings. It’s added a new dimension to UMD.
In 2021, faculty in the UMD College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences submitted proposals for student-centered experiential learning opportunities that included applied or hands-on learning outside the classroom. The grants are substantial, $1,000 per student with a $10,000 maximum. Applicants were notified in March 2022, and projects will begin for Summer or Fall 2022. The UMD Labovitz School of Business and Economics has followed suit, with a similar experiential learning program.
JL, with her strong teaching background, says, “Companies are eager for young talent, and students want real-world situations. Experimental learning makes sense.”
Eva Jackson, Jay and JL’s daughter is an example. Eva studied supply chain economics. She interned with and later was hired by a golf shirt importing company in Minnesota. That experience led to a position at the Boeing Company.
The Jacksons have seen the success first hand. They are excited about the new opportunity they have created at UMD. It will give students a head start but it will also provide assistance for companies. “A young person will come in with fresh ideas because they are living it,” JL says. “It’s great on so many levels.”