Things never slow down at Elon, a relaxed Smith Jackson said, sitting back in his wooden chair in his Alamance office with legs comfortably crossed. Its a dynamic place. Working here is like being a student in many ways; you just keep getting challenged to grow and stretch and do new things, so theres just always something new.

Sporting a light beige button-down shirt, navy blazer and maroon and gold tie, hes an avid Elon-supporter even down to his style choices. Tall and slim with white hair and a tan face, he appears like an average administrator, which is unexpected to some students.

He sits surrounded by his oak desk and various Elon memorabilia; small collectables from foreign locations, such as an elephant or koala, sit atop a high wall cabinet overlooking the office as the sun gleams off a wall-hanging of his children and a rock on his windowsill displaying the word QUALITY.

As a fish tank with small angelfish babbles ambient noise that fills the pauses between his well-articulated speaking patterns, it becomes obvious that this man is a clear-cut leader.

Dr. George Smith Jackson has been an advocate for promoting student-faculty collaboration since he was initially hired as Dean of Students in 1994. After reading about Elon in The Journal of Higher Education [a leading scholarly journal on the institution of higher education] coincidently as his family was passing Elon College on a family vacation many years ago, he stopped by and was automatically drawn to the campus, despite not even being on a job search.

The more information I learned [about Elon] it just became clear to me the kinds of programs and the way Elon approaches education is really student-centered, he said. For an institution to say were not talking down to students, were working with students, were getting our faculty and staff engaged with a partnership for learning so they can go out and do some really neat things and have some really great experiences, its kind of magical what you see happen here.

Hooked from then on, he was promoted to his current position, vice president and dean of student life, in 1998, and currently oversees all aspects of student life, including all 15 departments responsible for making students comfortable in all aspects. Also a member of a handful of committees and a member of the presidents senior staff, he has his plate full.

For him, the job description is simply about supplying basic student services and co-curricular educational opportunities as well as working to create a great working relationship between student life and academic affairs to try to provide what we call a seamless learning environment.

On a personal level, he embraces a simple goal that he attempts to spread to students with all he does.

I never want students to feel theyre not a part of the Elon community, that theyre not valued, he said. [I want them to feel] what they say matters and that theyre important.

But in professional terms, he is the one responsible for making sure the housing, health services, counseling services, family weekend, Student Union Board, intramural and club sports, volunteer programs, service opportunities and Greek life, among a few other Elon programs, run smoothly.

With such a demanding workload, he cannot avoid creating a deep impact, but he does it with grace and a not-so-forceful presence.

One anonymous survey correspondent from an online poll conducted by The Pendulum March 12-14 donned him The Dad of Elon, while others exaggerated his enigmatic dominance over Elon by inserting his name in Chuck Norris jokes, claiming he fights terrorists, owns the world, is Leos right-hand man, is like the gossip patrol, is a professional stud [muffin] or downright IS Elon.

Facebook groups, such as Smith Jackson: the Man, the Myth, the Legend or Law and Order: Smith Jackson Unit, have sprung up in an attempt to debunk the mysterious man behind so many inner-campus workings. Displaying photographs of his head cropped on Supermans body or shoddy cell phone pictures capturing an outing in front of Moseley, the groups clearly admire the man many students only know through their inbox.

Freshman Laura Fraase, who is currently an administrator in one of the Facebook groups, took over the position because she thought the idea was funny.

But really, [it is] a good idea because Smith Jackson really is a mystery to most of the student body, particularly freshmen, she said.

Aware he may not be as involved with students as some of his colleagues, Jackson said he still attends many student events since he loves to see what students are doing and feels he is completely in-the-loop about the community.

Im not day-to-day, hands-on helping students prepare and do things, but I think I have a pretty broad sense of the student body and what theyre doing through a lot of the student leadership, he said. I think I have a good understanding of it, but I dont have as many individual connections as some of the program directors will have.

But it has been his indirect relationship with students that have made him infamous on campus.

I joke about how theres probably Smith Jackson e-mails at Wake Forest and Duke, Jackson said, chuckling at his notorious status. Theyve kind of become branded, but its just kind of become part of the culture of Elon.

Though he said he doesnt mind having to be known as the bearer of bad news with some negative campus e-mails, he said he hopes students dont associate it as his primary identity, even though having a Smith Jackson e-mail popping up after logging in has become a way of life on campus.

I think students are positive about it, saying Well thats just Oz, we dont know if he really exists or not, he said, grinning. But I hope they also think Maybe we dont know who he is, but thats the guy thats looking out and working with others to make sure theres safety.

Special Features Editor: Andie Diemer - 03/15/07