Gregory Jackson
PERDOCEO EDUCATIONAbout Gregory Jackson
Gregory L. Jackson, age 58, is an independent director and Chairman of the Board of Perdoceo Education Corporation. He has served on PRDO’s board since November 2008 and became independent Chairman on November 16, 2023 (previously Lead Director from May 25, 2023 to November 15, 2023). Jackson is a career investment professional with a B.S. from the University of Utah and an MBA from the University of Chicago .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson Park Capital LLC | Managing Partner | Jan 2013–Dec 2017 | Co-managed Oakseed Opportunity Fund; investor-led operational and governance initiatives at portfolio companies |
| Oakseed Opportunity Fund | Co-Manager | Jan 2013–Dec 2017 | SEC-registered equity mutual fund management |
| Ensign Peak Advisors | Senior Portfolio Manager | Jan 2011–Apr 2012 | Public markets portfolio management |
| Blum Capital Partners, L.P. | Investment Partner; Co-Head Investment Committee | 2003–2011 | Sourcing investments; portfolio oversight; governance engagement across affiliates (Blum Strategic GP entities) |
| Harris Associates LP | Partner; Co-Portfolio Manager, Oakmark Global Fund | ~1997–2003 | Co-PM from fund inception (Aug 1999) through Oct 2003; domestic equities analyst |
| Yacktman Asset Management | Partner; Portfolio Manager; Investment Analyst | Prior to Harris Associates | Fundamental equity analysis and portfolio management |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private Investor | Investor | Current | No other current public-company directorships disclosed in PRDO’s proxy |
Board Governance
- Board leadership: Independent Chairman since Nov 16, 2023; Board separates Chair and CEO roles to enhance oversight .
- Independence: Board committees (Audit, Compensation, Compliance & Risk, Nominating & Governance) are composed entirely of independent directors; at least two-thirds of the Board must be independent per guidelines .
- Committees (current independent director assignments): Jackson serves on Compensation and Nominating & Governance Committees; he is not the chair of either .
- Attendance and engagement: Board met six times in 2024; each incumbent director attended at least 75% of aggregate Board and committee meetings; all directors attended the 2024 Annual Meeting .
- Risk oversight: Compliance & Risk Committee oversees cybersecurity; broader ERM is overseen by the Board with management’s risk committee reporting to the Board .
| Governance Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Chair role | Independent Chairman (since 11/16/2023) |
| Committee memberships | Compensation; Nominating & Governance (member) |
| Meeting attendance | ≥75% of Board/committee meetings (2024) |
| Annual meeting attendance | All directors attended 2024 Annual Meeting |
| Independence policies | Board/committees independent per Nasdaq; ≥2/3 independent |
| Related-party transactions | None requiring disclosure; no relationships impairing independence |
Fixed Compensation
| Component | 2024 Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chairman annual cash retainer | $142,500 | Three quarterly payments at prior $130,000 annual rate plus one quarter at new $180,000 rate effective Oct 1, 2024 |
| Committee chair fees | N/A | Jackson is not a committee chair; chair fees are $25,000 (Audit) or $20,000 (Comp, Compliance & Risk, N&G) for those chairs |
| Meeting fees | Potential $1,500 per meeting starting with the 18th meeting in the cycle | Applies to Board and committee meetings beyond 17 per year |
| Total 2024 director cash fees (Jackson) | $142,500 | As shown in director compensation table |
Performance Compensation
| Grant Type | Grant Date | Shares/Units | Grant-Date Fair Value ($) | Vesting/Performance Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RSUs (annual director grant) | 2024 Annual Meeting | 6,256 | $143,262 | Time-based; settle June 14, 2025, subject to continued Board service through 2025 Annual Meeting |
- Performance metrics tied to director compensation: None disclosed; director equity grants are time-based RSUs (service vesting only) .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Role | Overlap/Interlock | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| None disclosed | — | — | No current public-company boards disclosed for Jackson in PRDO’s 2025 proxy |
Expertise & Qualifications
| Skill/Expertise | Evidence |
|---|---|
| Educational services and regulatory experience | Extensive background investing in for-profit education; governance and operational initiatives at portfolio companies |
| Strategic planning & growth | Public company strategic planning experience; investor perspective on industry fundamentals |
| Investment management & financial expertise | Career investment manager; fund co-management and portfolio leadership |
| Board skills matrix | PRDO highlights Jackson’s expertise in educational services, strategic planning, and investment/financial experience |
Equity Ownership
| Instrument | Quantity (as of Dec 31, 2024) | Status/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Stock options | 46,411 | Options to purchase shares of PRDO common stock |
| RSUs (outstanding) | 6,256 | Annual director RSU grant pending settlement in 2025 |
| Deferred stock units | 14,619 | Vested; settle upon termination of service |
| Director stock ownership guidelines | 3x base cash annual retainer; retain ≥75% of net shares until target achieved | |
| Guideline compliance | As of 2024 annual valuation, all independent directors complied with retention; majority had attained guideline | |
| Hedging/pledging | Prohibited for directors (hedging, pledging, short sales, margin) under Insider Trading Policy |
Governance Assessment
-
Positives:
- Independent Chairman and clear separation of Chair/CEO enhances oversight and board effectiveness .
- Strong independence framework: committees entirely independent; policies prohibit hedging/pledging; robust clawback policy applicable to executives with board oversight .
- Attendance thresholds embedded in compensation (final quarterly retainer contingent on ≥75% attendance) align incentives for engagement; directors met attendance expectations in 2024 .
- Transparent director pay structure and stock ownership guidelines supporting alignment with shareholders .
- No related-party transactions or independence impairments disclosed; reduces conflict risk .
- Investor support evidenced by 97% Say‑on‑Pay approval at the 2024 Annual Meeting .
-
Watch items:
- Chairman retainer increased by $50,000 (to $180,000) after a competitiveness study indicating board pay at lower end of market; reasonable rationale, but continued monitoring of cash/equity mix is warranted to maintain alignment .
- No performance metrics for director equity grants (time-based RSUs), which is common practice but places greater emphasis on overall board effectiveness and ownership guideline compliance for alignment .
Overall, Jackson’s investor-centric background, independent Chair role, committee service (Compensation and Nominating & Governance), attendance, and compliance with stringent ownership and trading policies support investor confidence; the absence of related-party transactions and strong shareholder support further de-risk governance concerns .