How Jackson College helped content creator Noah Shackelford realize his passion
Noah Shackelford ’22 has turned his passion for creativity into a career as the digital content coordinator for Extreme Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram in Jackson. He designs social media content, creates advertisements and produces commercials.
Before finding his niche, Noah wasn’t entirely sure what path to take.
That changed when he attended Jackson College.
“I met with one of the faculty members, Christie Hughes, and we talked about how the marketing field is and I realized through that I really enjoy being creative. Now like at Extreme Dodge, I do that stuff and I wouldn’t have realized that without doing that event at the college,” he said.
Another key mentor in his journey was Student Success Navigator Joseph Kroa.
“I felt like me and Joseph really bonded,” he said. “He was a pretty big mentor to me and really helped me through my classes.”
Noah graduated with an associate in business administration in 2022 and transferred to Wayne State University to major in marketing with a focus in advertising.
“I never had a bad experience with any of the staff or faculty from Jackson College. I feel like they’re really motivating and helpful in terms of helping me find my path in life,” he said.
One of Noah’s proudest achievements isn’t just a marketing campaign – it’s a deeply personal project that changed lives.
He created a documentary centered on his cousin’s experience with domestic violence and stalking, a project that took two years to complete.
The documentary was shown at the Michigan Theatre, drawing an audience of over 160 people.
“I kind of see my purpose in helping others,” he said. “With all the creative stuff, it really allowed me to help my cousin and show her story to help other people who are going through the same situation. That’s probably my most proud piece of work that I’ve done.”
Noah credits Jackson College for helping him build the foundation for his success.
Experiencing a smaller classroom feeling allowed him to connect with instructors in a way he may not have been able to at larger universities, the affordability and the ability to smoothly transfer to a four-year university after getting his degree here.
“All the professors are really easy going, welcoming, and they will do everything they can to help you figure out what you want to do with your life,” he said. “The transfer agreements allow you to knock out the prerequisites, saving a lot of money, and then go into a university with the focus on the area you want to be in. It worked out great for me.”