Alphonso Jackson served as the 13th United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development . He was nominated by President George W. Bush on January 28, 2004 and unanimously confirmed by the Senate on March 31, 2004. On March 31, 2008, Jackson announced his resignation, effective April 18, 2008. Jackson became the Deputy Secretary of HUD in June 2001. After former HUD Secretary Mel Martinez left the administration to campaign for the November 2004 election for a U.S. Senate seat in Florida, Jackson became acting secretary of HUD. Born in Marshall, Texas, Jackson grew up in South Dallas. His... father was a lead smelter; Jackson was the youngest of twelve children. He earned a bachelor's degree in political science and a master's degree in education administration from Northeast Missouri State University and a J.D. from Washington University School of Law. Jackson is a member of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity. Jackson's career started in 1973 as an assistant professor at the University of Missouri - St. Louis. From 1977- 1981, Jackson served as the Director of Public Safety for the City of St. Louis, MO.
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