Kim Jackson
Title: Senior immigration advisor
Duties: To advise international scholars and their
principal investigators on how best to maintain legal status
in this country. This involves tracking legal issues, conveying
critical information to international scholars and their principal
investigators, and maintaining liaison relationships with
officials from several government agencies.
The State of the Field: "Nine-eleven precipitated
sweeping changes in the way we do business. It is a tough
time to be in the field. The Patriot Act reflects a new emphasis
on security. In general, there has been a shift in focus from
service to enforcement."
Changes have included:
- A new Department of Homeland Security, which took over
the duties of the Immigration and Naturalization Service
(INS) when it was dissolved. Former INS responsibilities
were divided into three separate directorates: the Bureau
of Citizenship and Immigration Services (recently renamed
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services), Immigration
and Customs Enforcement, and Customs and Border Protection.
- The Student Exchange and Visitor Information System (SEVIS).
This electronic tracking and monitoring system replaced
the previous paper-based system, integrating information
from the databases of several government agencies to track
the arrivals, activities, and departures of non-immigrants
on F (student) and J (exchange) visas.
- Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology (US-VISIT).
This month, the federal government began implementing a
system to monitor the arrivals and departures of all
foreign nationals based on biometric indicators (i.e., photographs
and fingerprints).
"While working in today's strict regulatory environment is
challenging, I wouldn't want to be doing anything else. I
like helping people and I am fortunate to work with so many
talented researchers from all over the world."
Advice for International Scholars: "It is important
to work closely with the International Office to comply with
all the new rules and regulations. Consult with us as soon
as possible about any prospective change in travel, employment,
or activities in this country."
Education: B.A. in Middle Eastern Studies from the
American University in Cairo—"a transformative experience
that gave me a deep respect for other people and cultures."
M.A. in Counseling with an emphasis on college student development
from Pennsylvania State University.
Work Experience: International and/or student services
for Pennsylvania State University, Johns Hopkins University,
Albright College, Emery University, and University of California,
San Diego.
Started at Scripps Research: November 2003 First Impressions
of Scripps Research: "I'm loving it. It's an upbeat, positive
place to work."
Extracurriculars: Reading fiction such as Barbara
Kingsolver's Prodigal Summer and Sue Monk Kidd's The
Secret Life of Bees, going to the movies (recent favorites
include Dirty Pretty Things, Mystic River, and
21 Grams), and scrapbooking the life of her 3 1/2-year-old
son.
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Scripps Research Senior Immigration
Advisor Kim Jackson advises international scholars and their
principal investigators on how best to maintain legal status
in this country." Photo
by Kevin Fung.
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