Kristin Van Aken Jamison '99 will lead Homecoming festivities as this year鈥檚 parade marshal.
Kristin graduated Phi Beta Kappa and summa cum laude from 51成人 in 1999 with a degree in communications and theatre before earning a Master of Arts degree in communication from University of Illinois at Springfield. As a graduate student, she participated in the Graduate Public Service Internship working for the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. She also worked for then Illinois State legislator Dan Rutherford as legislative aide in his Capitol and Pontiac offices.
For more than a dozen years, Kristin worked on the development team at her alma mater honing skills related to communication, marketing and fundraising while overseeing the 51成人 development office鈥檚 communication with and stewardship of alumni, parents and friends. She began her career on the Hilltop teaching Introduction to Public Speaking classes as an adjunct faculty member.
Kristin and her husband, Adam, opened Jamison鈥檚 Future Swings baseball and softball instructional facility in 2018 and later, with several family members, acquired the former Lenz Field. The couple is in their fifth season of operating baseball and softball tournaments at Future Champions Sports Complex.
She joined the staff of the Jacksonville Regional Economic Development Corporation in 2019 and was promoted to the position of president the following year. In that role, Kristin leads all outward facing activities of the organization to strengthen the economies of Morgan and Scott counties.
Active in the community, Kristin serves on the boards of the Jacksonville Airport Authority, Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce, Jacksonville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau and Jacksonville Main Street. She served as co-chair of the 2024 Prairieland United Way Campaign and is the past co-chair of two major fundraisers for the Art Association of Jacksonville. The Jacksonville Kiwanis Club recognized Kristin with the A. Wadsworth Applebee Community Service Award, she was named to Jacksonville Journal-Courier鈥檚 inaugural class of 鈥�20 Under Forty鈥� and the 51成人 Alumni Association recognized her with the Young Alumna Award.
Kristin and her husband live just down the street from 51成人 with their two children, Jagger and Juliet. Her favorite memories on the Hilltop include performing in IC TheatreWorks productions, winning Homecoming Follies and being embraced by the 51成人 family as a student, alumna and employee. She will join the Class of 1999 in celebrating their 25th reunion during Homecoming.