Matt Jacob has joined Perkins School of Theology as Associate Director of Public Affairs and Alumni/ae Relations effective January 3, 2022.
Working with Connie Nelson, Director of Public Affairs and Alumni/ae Relations, Jacob will strategize on the planning and execution of the office’s programs and events, handle media relations and communications, write and manage digital and print publications and materials, including Perkins Perspective, and maintain Perkins’ social media outlets. In addition, his role will involve interacting with external and internal constituencies, including Perkins-SMU faculty, staff and students, denominational and secular media, donors, friends of the School and advisory boards.
Jacob held the same position as Associate Director earlier, from 2015 to 2017. Before returning to Perkins, since August 2017, he has served as Director of Communications for the North Texas Conference of The United Methodist Church. His career also included stints with The Dallas Morning News as an investigative reporter (2012-2014) and a reporter (2000-2006), as an Account Manager for Allison+Partners, a public relations agency (2014-2015), as an Account Supervisor at Golin, an international public relations agency (2011-12) and as Marketing Communications Coordinator for Children’s Medical Center Dallas (2006-2011).
Jacob earned bachelor’s degrees in journalism and political science at SMU and a master’s in journalism at the University of Missouri-Columbia.
“As an SMU alum, this position represents a wonderful opportunity to be back on campus,” Jacob said. “My professional roots all started at SMU, so this means coming full circle. Perkins has a rich history as well as a wonderful story to tell about its present and its future, and I’m excited to be part of that storytelling process.”
Jacob also teaches an advanced writing class for public relations students in the corporate communications and public affairs program at Meadows as an adjunct. He and his wife, Alison, have been married 17 years and have three children: Carter (14), Molly (11) and Margaret (7). They attend First UMC Richardson.