Education
Ph.D. Communication, University of South Florida, 2012
B.Arch Architecture, Drury University, 2005
Biography
J. Jacob Jenkins (Ph.D., Communication; B.A., Architecture) is Campus Coordinator for CSU's Affordable Learning Solutions (aka, "OpenCI"), Founding Director of The California Alliance for Open Education (CAopenED), and Tenured Professor of Organizational Communication at CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI).
As a Campus Coordinator for OpenCI, Jenkins helped establish CSUCI as a national leader in textbook affordability. Since launching in 2016, OpenCI has benefited 60K enrollments, saved students over $7.2M dollars, and pioneered the 1st three zero-textbook-cost undergraduate majors (aka, "Z-Majors") in the entire CSU system - and perhaps the entire nation.
In 2021, Jenkins also helped launch The California Alliance for Open Education (CAopenEd). CAopenEd was created to scale OpenCI's unprecedented success to a larger, external audience by "Equipping campus leaders and administrators with the training, guidance, and resources they need to help reduce course material costs and increase student success."
For his efforts to improve student equity in higher education, Jenkins was recognized as the California State Student Association's 2020 "Faculty of the Year," and Ventura County Leadership Academy’s 2019 "Educational Leader of the Year.” Jenkins also received CSUCI's 2019 "President's Award for Innovation in Teaching & Learning," CASE's 2019 "Gold Circle of Excellence Award," and the National Communication Association's 2018 "Engaged Scholar Service Award." He was selected for the National Communication Association's "Teachers on Teaching Spotlight Series” in 2016, and as a Finalist for CSUCI's "Maximus Teaching Award” in 2015, 2017, and 2019. He was more recently chosen for Pacific Coast Business Times' "40 Under 40," and as a Research Fellow for the Open Education Group.
In addition to his role as OpenCI's Campus Coordinator and CAopenEd's Founding Director, Jenkins has published over 50 academic papers on organizational leadership, inclusion, and innovation. Sample works include his book, "The Diversity Paradox: Seeking Community in an Intercultural Church," and recent journal article, "Textbook Broke: Textbook Affordability as a Social Justice Issue" (https://jime.open.ac.uk/articles/10.5334/jime.549/).
Jenkins currently lives within walking distance of the Pacific Ocean with his wife, son, and daughter. He has a passion for travel, having visited 6 continents and 30 countries. During his free time, he enjoys film, live music, spicy food, and stimulating conversation.
Twitter: @JJacobJenkins
Facebook: JJacobJenkins
Representative Courses Taught
- COMM 455 Leadership Studies
- COMM 442 Organizational Communication
- COMM 333 Nonprofit Management
Scholarship
Keywords
Organizational Leadership, Interpersonal/Intercultural Communication, Applied Communication Research, Community Building & Engagement