Jacky received her MSW from the University of Kentucky in 1983, and spent 23 years in clinical practice before returning to UK to work on her doctorate in 2006. She is a clinical instructor and is currently coordinating the Title IV-E funded Public Child Welfare Certification Program at the University of Kentucky, after coordinating UK’s satellite MSW program at Morehead State University for two years. She teaches in both the undergraduate and graduate curriculum.

Jacky’s research interests include professional resilience and quality of life, including factors which may influence social workers’ capacity to manage stress and experience satisfaction in their work; mindfulness; and emotional regulation. She has presented at regional and national conferences. Jacky is a member of the Society for Social Work and Research, the Council on Social Work Education, the Association of Baccalaureate Program Directors, the National Association of Social Work, the Kentucky Society for Clinical Social Work (past president), and the Clinical Social Work Association.