From left are Kristan Mahon, Robert H. Jackson Center executive director, Jackson Center interns Jude Gotschall, Maddy Russell, Rotarian Becky Robbins, Rotary President Ruth Lundin, and interns Kehui Yan, Nick Farrelly-Jackson, and Andrew Jin.

Members of the Rotary Club of Jamestown welcomed Kristan McMahon, who since 2019 has served as the president of the Robert H. Jackson Center.

She has guided the center through two construction projects, the pandemic and now the expansion of its team and programs.

McMahon discussed many facets of the Robert H. Jackson Center. She spoke first about the intern program that consists of 10 weeks each summer, including a week in Washington, D.C. The five yearly interns have many opportunities throughout the 10 weeks to experience Robert H. Jackson and the impact he has made in many areas of justice.

Locally, Ms. McMahon talked about the growth and success of Battle of the Books in Chautauqua County, which the Rotary Club of Jamestown has supported by purchasing the books.

The Jackson Center has completed many renovations, making it accessible and relocating all administrative offices to the second floor, which makes the expansion of exhibits possible. This year the center is going to begin digitizing Robert H. Jackson material from the Library of Congress.

The Jackson Center received a grant to assess its mission and vision and developed strategic objectives under five pillars: building, development, programs, organization, and technology. All programming reflects Jackson’s views on topics.

McMahon announced that the Center is looking for a programs director and is updating its website. The center is also used as a polling place for elections.

McMahon serves as a trustee and chair of the Franciscan Mission Committee for St. Bonaventure University and as secretary and governance chair on the Board of Youth for Understanding as well as a board member of the Sitar Arts Center. She is an avid traveler who spends her time reading about justice, World War II, authoritarian regimes and international law, but intersperses that with cozy mysteries.