The Jackson School's commitment to regional, cross-cultural, and comparative studies extends well beyond the boundaries of its many formal academic programs. The school has eight Title VI National Resource Centers (NRC) devoted to outreach and public education activities.
Each NRC provides Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) fellowships to graduate and undergraduate students throughout the University. The Jackson School is the number one recipient of NRC and FLAS awards in the country.
The school is named for the late Senator Henry M. Jackson, in recognition of his interest and support for the school and for the field of international affairs.
The African Studies Program and the Jackson School of International Studies join the world in mourning the death of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela. 
The Central African Republic, a landlocked nation near the western coast of Africa, is considered one of the most unstable regions in the world by the U.N. The Jackson School Student Association hosted an event for participants to learn more about the issue and brainstorm ways the international community can help the distressed nation.