James Jackson delivered the Third Annual Bazzani Lecture on Nov. 30, 2005 in Urbana. Jackson is Professor and Director, Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan. He also is Director of the Program for Research on Black Americans and Senior Research Scientist at the Institute for Social Research at U of M.

Jackson's research interests include: experimental and survey methodology, cultural influences on mental health; social influence; attitude theory and change; aging and human development.

He directs the National Survey of American Life, a survey funded by the National Institute of Mental Health that is designed to document the physical, emotional, mental, structural, and economic conditions of African Americans at the beginning of the new century.

Recent publications include "African Americans in a Diversifying Nation," "Health in Black America," and "Being black and feeling blue: the mental health consequences of racial discrimination."

He serves on the Board of Scientific Counselors of the National Institute on Aging.