Student Spotlight: Makayla Jackson
By Tony Scott

Makayla Jackson has the goal of becoming an attorney, working in the juvenile
justice system .(Photo by Makayla Jackson)

Makayla Jackson’s ultimate career goal is to become a juvenile justice attorney, with a focus on preventing the school-to-jail pipeline. 
 

Jackson, who aims to graduate in May 2026 with a bachelor’s degree in political science and certificates in criminology and nonprofit and NGO studies, has participated in two internships – one as an social-emotional learning facilitator for Family Service Agency and another for CASA DeKalb County. The internship program is a collaboration between the DeKalb County Nonprofit Partnership, The Center for Nonprofit and NGO Studies and Career Services at NIU, supported by the Douglas C. and Lynn M. Roberts Family Foundation. 

Internships like these represent a meaningful way NIU fulfills the Huskie Promise, by blending hands-on learning, career readiness and a commitment to community engagement. Through the Huskie Promise, NIU is dedicated to helping students graduate equipped with the knowledge, practical experience and sense of responsibility necessary to thrive after college.

“Through my time as a facilitator at Family Service Agency, I was able to really connect with the kids and ultimately become a safe space for them to talk to when they were in need,” she said. “Helping my mentee learn emotional regulation through situations really allowed me to learn new skills and reflect on the ways I coped with challenging situations.” 
 

Jackson cited Julie Ann O’Connell, assistant director of the Center for Nonprofit and NGO Studies, as a mentor.
 

“These experiences wouldn’t have been possible without Julie Ann O’Connell as she taught me about adaptability and advocated for me in times of need,” Jackson said. 

Jackson grew up on Chicago’s South Side and wanted to be an attorney since she was 11 years old. She purposefully chose to attend a high school with a pre-law program.

“I knew I wanted to be a voice for those who feel like they don’t have a voice or felt like they lost their voice,” she said. 

She chose this path despite most of her family being in the nursing field. 

“When I chose to study law and become a lawyer, my family saw how well my personality suited this career path along with how serious I was about becoming a lawyer,” she said.

Jackson, who will be first in her family to graduate college, chose NIU because its staff provided her support during the process of applying for college. 

“They allowed me to ask as many questions as I needed in order to understand what university life would be like,” she said. 
 

To help Huskies like Makayla achieve their goals, please visit the NIU Forward website.