Donna M. Jackson is the new Deputy City Clerk for the City of Mount Vernon, NY. Previously, she served in administrative roles building trust and inspiring loyalty with the City School Districts of Mount Vernon, NY and New Rochelle, NY and in corporate law firms in Manhattan. Donna believes in community engagement and activism. She is always fascinated by the power of collaboration and human potential for perspective-building and problem solving.
Donna will support City Clerk Tanesia Walters, JD, the Councilmembers and department staff. She will empower stakeholders and increase beneficial input that will inform decision-making by the Councilmembers.
Professionally and in volunteer capacities, Donna provided participatory planning, meeting facilitation, compliance training, capacity building, and strategic planning services to local citizens, education agencies, governments, nonprofits, and community-based organizations. She is empathetic and mindful, and a lifelong learner. Most recently, Donna achieved her Basic Mediation Training with the New York Peace Institute – a program approved by New York State’s O?ce of Alternative Dispute Resolution and Court Improvement Programs -and is completing her apprenticeship there.
Donna Jackson holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English from Virginia State University and a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from the Pace University (Pleasantville). She received certification in Public Relations from New York University. Donna’s past and present volunteer Board service to area organizations includes: the Westchester Black Women’s Political Caucus, American Canoe Association’s Lake Sebago Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Sub-Committee, Kiwanis of Mount Vernon, Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic, Mount Vernon Day Care Center Inc., the Westchester County Historical Society and Youth-Community Outreach Programs, Inc.
She is the mother of two teen girls, Zuri and Layla, a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, and loves local history.