Frankie Jackson

In May 2007, Frances (Frankie) Jackson graduated from Montana State University’s earth sciences department as its first doctoral recipient. This, however, represents a small portion of her contributions to the department that spanned nearly 25 years. Arriving in 1993, Jackson’s efforts helped establish the current undergraduate paleontology option as a successful and thriving program. She helped design the option’s curriculum, taught field and lab-based courses, served as a research role model and mentor for undergraduate and graduate students, and importantly, provided inspiration to female students interested in a science career. Upon completing her doctorate, she became an assistant research professor in the department and taught earth sciences to teachers on the Crow and Northern Cheyenne Reservation. Her NSF grant (2010-2014) brought Montana undergraduates to China to study dinosaur eggs. Jackson also designed and taught successful field-based paleontology courses for the Master of Science in Science Education program and served on numerous university committees as the female faculty representative. Throughout, Jackson established an international reputation as an expert on dinosaur eggs, conducting fieldwork across the American West, China, Spain and Argentina, publishing over 50 scientific articles and serving as an ambassador for paleontological education and research at MSU.

Frankie Jackson established an international reputation as an expert on dinosaur eggs and eggshells, conducting fieldwork across the American West, China, Spain and Argentina, publishing over 50 scientific articles, and serving as an ambassador for paleontological education and research at MSU.