As the kick-off project of the recently announced Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, high impact practices, such as this field-based experiential learning opportunity with industry and community partners, gives students hands-on experience with practical scenarios they are studying in the curriculum. Business students working on this project are learning how to create scalable project plans, develop distribution plans and create communication strategies for a nationwide initiative. 

“Our Tigers have been working hard to protect their den by following all of the CDC guidelines and campus protocol,” said Shalonda Mullgrav, DBA, interim dean of the College of Business Administration. “With Mr. Jackson’s contribution, we can show the collective HBCU family how much the SSU Tigers care for our community. We want our COBA students to graduate with the idea that giving something back to the community is an important outcome, and that doing so will prepare them to be good citizens in work and life.”

Jackson is a successful entrepreneur and owner of 1 Indigo Child, LLC, which produces Dr. Hobbs Antibacterial Hand Sanitizer with Aloe. A long-time donor, Jackson believes in giving back. Jackson formed the Fred & Mattie Jackson Foundation at SSU, which provides over $25,000 annually in need-based scholarships to help students complete their degrees. 

“It will take a united effort for us to survive the crisis that is upon us,” said Jackson. “It makes sense to gift this sanitizer to other HBCUs because we’re all in this together.”

To date, more than 75,000 bottles of Dr. Hobbs Sanitizer has been shipped to more than 30 HBCUs, with more shipments occurring daily.