Loma Linda University Dean honored for excellence in social work education

Craig R. Jackson, MSW, JD, Dean of the School of Allied Health Professions at Loma Linda University, has been named the recipient of the 2026 Frances Lomas Feldman Excellence in Education award from the California Social Welfare Archives. Jackson received the award, which honors educators and researchers who demonstrate outstanding contributions to social work education, at the CSWA Social Welfare Impact Awards event held in Los Angeles on April 16.

Jackson's nomination for the award came from one of his former students, who he taught in the LLU social work program in the 1990s, a tribute to his lasting impact that continues to extend across generations of learners. Jackson began his service at Loma Linda as a clinical social worker at the Medical Center. He progressed into directing the outpatient drug and alcohol clinic and later served the medical center as Assistant Director and then Director of Social Work.

Dr Jackson is an alumnus of Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, (B.S., Psychology, '73; MSW, '76) and Wayne State University College of Law (J.D., '93). After completing his law degree, Jackson moved into academia as one of the founding faculty members of the Loma Linda University social work program. While there, he contributed to integrating law, ethics, and bioethics into the curriculum, drawing on both his clinical and legal backgrounds at a time when these areas were not widely emphasized in behavioral health education.

Jackson became dean of the School of Allied Health Professions in 2002, a role that allows him to focus on the best interests of students and faculty as they seek to create meaningful change.

"It means a great deal to me to receive the Frances Lomas Feldman award," said Jackson. "I've been honored to be part of the journeys of students both past and present, and it's humbling to know that whatever impact I have had on their lives and careers continues to resonate over time."

The California Social Welfare Archives is an organization dedicated to preserving the history of social welfare in California. Headquartered at the University of Southern California, CSWA documents the development of social welfare in California for educators, scholars, and researchers by preserving and making available materials of historical significance and publishing oral history interviews with social work pioneers.