What does it mean to be a Southernite?
To be able to excel in any environment.
Jefferson's Bio:
Jefferson R. Reese Jr. is a native of New Orleans, LA. He graduated from the first African American High School in Louisiana, McDonogh 35 Senior High School. He went on to attend Southern University A&M, majoring in Electrical Engineering. While in college, Jefferson was a 2002 initiate of the Alpha Sigma Chapter of the Kappa Alpha Psi, member of the Southern University Marching Band, and inducted into the Eta Kappa Nu, Electrical Engineering Honor Society.
Jefferson graduated in the summer of 2003 from Southern University with a degree Electrical Engineering and soon went on to work for the Boeing Company as a Mission System Test Engineer on the F-15. While in this role he acquired a Masters in Systems Engineering from Missouri Science & Technology University. After acquiring his masters Jefferson went on to take on multiple leadership positions in the company including Mission Systems Test Lead, Manager of Electronic Systems Integration Lab and F-15 Analysis and Integration Senior Manager. Jefferson recently received a new role as the Surveillance, Strike and Mobility’s Division, Workforce Strategy Lead, where he oversees Engineering Staffing, Employee Engagement and Developing a Talent Pipeline for an organization consisting of over 2,200 engineers.
While he has enjoyed every role he’s had at the Boeing Company what he cherish the most is being selected as Boeing’s Executive Focal to Southern University. In this role he oversees charitable contributions to Southern, and leads an engagement plan with the University. In one year Jefferson has been able to restore hiring authority and increase the amount of students getting offers by 400%.
Jefferson is grateful for the opportunity to interact with SU in the Executive Focal Capacity but it’s not the only one dear to his heart. As the founder of the Human Jukebox Alumni Association, he’s had the pleasure of working with many great alumni to create an organization dedicated to supporting the band and community.
Achieving goals or being honored are rarely about the person who receives the credit. Jefferson knows nothing he has “accomplished” or “will accomplish” is possible without the constant love and support of his parents and family, inspiration from his 3 beautiful kids and love of his soul mate. He would like to thank them all for their unwavering support.