Jacqueline M. Gatson, serves as the Assistant Vice President of Advancement for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the Purdue for Life Foundation. In this role, Dr. Gatson designs, leads, and directs a broad range of Advancement initiatives that support engagement and development strategies to fulfill the University’s diversity, inclusion and belonging priorities. Prior to joining the Purdue for Life Foundation, Dr. Gatson was the Associate Director for Purdue University’s Minority Engineering Program (MEP). Dr. Gatson has nearly two decades of experience in higher education, specializing in university and industry engagement, STEM programs, and strategic partnerships. She directly oversees and supports Purdue's DIB fundraising activity, community and industry partnerships and alumni engagement to strengthen advancement opportunities for the university.

Dr. Gatson is recognized as a STEM diversity and inclusion thought leader and advocate. She is a former national executive board member of the National Association for Multicultural Engineering Program Advocates. Gatson is the recipient of the 2020 New Employee Award from the College of Engineering at Purdue University.  She is also the 2021 recipient of the Distinguished Service Award, which recognizes individuals or organizations who have made significant and sustained contributions to Black Higher Education within the State of Indiana, from the Purdue Black Graduate Student Association. In May 2023, she was recognized as the cover feature for the CIO Views publication, Most Inspiring DEI Leaders to Follow in 2023.