Trey Jackson
A Rooted & Rising journalist
About Trey Jackson
Trey Jackson is an Eastern Kentuckian and incoming J.D. candidate at the University of Kentucky J. David Rosenberg College of Law. He graduated from the University of the Cumberlands in 2026, where he earned bachelor’s degrees in Accounting and Finance.
Trey has remained active in leadership and service throughout his education, serving in student government and holding leadership positions in several academic and professional organizations. He is particularly interested in law, government, economic development, and public service.
A lifelong resident of Laurel County, Trey is committed to building a career that allows him to serve Kentucky and contribute to the communities that have shaped him.
Essays
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· Place & Perspective
What Rural Means to Me
When people ask me what “rural” means, I could give them the textbook answer. Sparsely populated. Far from cities. Fewer resources. That’s what most folks picture. But that’s not all that comes to mind for me.
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· Building & Inspiration
Building Bridges Where None Existed
A few months ago, I sat in a crowded theatre at the University of the Cumberlands (UC) watching the Kentucky Supreme Court hear oral arguments just a few feet away from students who had never even stepped inside a courtroom before.
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· Community & Investment
Community Shows Up
On May 16, 2025, an EF-4 tornado tore through Laurel County, Kentucky. Nineteen people lost their lives, hundreds of homes were damaged, and entire neighborhoods were changed overnight. It was one of the deadliest tornadoes in Kentucky in recent years, and it happened in my hometown.
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· Vision & Voice
The People Who Wove Me In
For the last few years, I've had a simple life motto I go by: take every opportunity. It's become a running joke with the people who know me. I have a hard time saying no to much of anything.
