I was born in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1965, and was raised Roman Catholic. I moved to Atlanta right after graduating from the University of Dayton in 1987. I am married and have two adult children. Early in my career, I worked as a house parent and later, after obtaining my Master of Social Work, as a therapist at a residential treatment facility for children with emotional and behavioral difficulties. I was also a youth minister at Sacred Heart Catholic Church (now the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus), when my children were young. For the past 22 years, Jackie has been a middle school religion teacher at Christ the King School, and is an active parishioner at the Roman Catholic Cathedral of Christ the King.

Jackie is dedicated to inter-religious dialogue and increased understanding and cooperation between various faith traditions.

I’ve participated in the Bremen Jewish Heritage and Holocaust Museum’s week-long “Teaching the Holocaust” class and the “Bearing Witness” program. Last year, I participated in the 13-week, “Children of Abraham” class offered at Ignatius House, and participated in Interfaith Atlanta’s training to become a speaker. I also volunteered as a committee co-chair for IA’s Fall Festival.