In Memoriam: Bailey W. Jackson

Bailey W. Jackson, 81, former dean of the College of Education, died Oct. 16 at his home in South Hadley.

Jackson served as dean of education at UMass Amherst from 1990-2002, first as interim dean before becoming permanent dean in 1994. He first started at UMass as a student, receiving his master's degree in education in 1972 and his doctorate in education in 1976. He then joined the university as a faculty member, serving in numerous administrative posts including associate dean for academic affairs and director of teacher education.

A strong advocate for diversity and a respected voice on multicultural organizations and understanding racial dynamics in the classroom and workforce, Jackson was known as a warm and caring teacher, colleague and leader, and was widely respected across campus.

"Bailey paved and led the way for the creation of the Social Justice Education graduate program at the College of Education in the early 1990s, building on the Social Issues Training Project he led in collaboration with graduate students and faculty colleagues for more than a decade," Ximena Zúñiga, professor of education, said in an email sent to colleagues by College of Education Dean Greg Kelly. "Bailey was a counseling psychologist, known for his contribution to the development of the fields of Black identity development and social oppression conceptual frameworks in social justice education, and for bringing diversity, equity and social justice perspectives to multicultural organizational development and change-what today is known as DEI.

"At UMass, we knew Bailey as a loving, warm, caring and visionary scholar, teacher, colleague and leader," Zúñiga continued. "He is-and will continue to be-deeply missed."

Calling hours will be held on Nov. 21 from 4-7 p.m. at the Beers & Story South Hadley Funeral Home, 646 Newton St., in South Hadley.

A complete obituary, as published in the Daily Hampshire Gazette, can be found below and on Legacy.com.

Bailey W. Jackson accomplished a great deal in his life but the accomplishments of which he was most proud were his work in social justice as a faculty member and later dean of the School of Education at the University of Massachusetts Amherst from 1991 to 2002; and above all, the privilege of raising his wonderful children, Marc Jackson (deceased), Glenn Jackson, Amber Jackson Terranova, and Maya Jackson Pellegrini. He is survived by his wife, Lenore Reilly, his beloved stepchildren Ashley, Caroline, and William Carlisle, along with 26 grandchildren and great grandchildren.

A champion of diversity and education reform as well an influential theorist in the areas of racial identity development and multicultural organizational development, he spoke widely on topics of social oppression and diversity and was valued for a warm and engaging style that won the admiration of decades of students and colleagues who join us in mourning him. He was a member of many educational associations, including The American Association for Higher Education the Association for Teacher Educators, the American Society for Training and Development and served on the Board of Directors for the National Training Laboratories Institute to address workplace inequity.

He was born on March 17, 1944, in Columbus, Ohio to Bailey W. Jackson II and Theodora Manning Jackson, and was the oldest brother of Glenn and Karen Jackson (deceased). Bailey died with his family by his side on a fittingly beautiful fall day that recalled cherished times on Block Island. As our granddaughter pointed out, "he was eighty-one and a half, not just eighty-one."

Calling hours will be held on November 21, 2025, from 4-7 p.m. at the Beers & Story South Hadley Funeral Home.