The USJ Alumni Association is an active organization with the mission of helping alumni and their parents keep close ties with their alma mater. USJ Alumni are always welcome back to campus. Keep us up to date on new contact information, weddings, babies and career news!
USJ’s extensive fine arts program begins in the Lower School with visual arts and music enrichment classes. Starting in Jr. Kindergarten, classes stage annual musical productions. The visual arts department challenges our students’ artistic talents and showcases them throughout our school and the community through art exhibits and competitions.
The athletic program at University School of Jackson is a member of TSSAA’s Division II, one of the strongest in the state of Tennessee. USJ’s Middle and Upper Schools currently field 37 teams in 13 different sports.
Founded in 1970, University School of Jackson is an independent school that creates a foundation for life-long learning. From the developmental curriculum in the infant and toddler program to the Advanced Placement courses in the Upper School, USJ focuses on the needs of the individual student, providing the environment and opportunity for each student to develop his or her potential in academics, athletics, fine arts, and leadership.
University School of Jackson is a non-denominational, non-sectarian, college preparatory school dedicated to academic excellence and to the founding principles of faith, service, and scholarship. Our mission is to instill a passion in our students for academic, artistic, and athletic excellence, while committing themselves to personal integrity, mutual respect, and lifelong learning.
Our school relies on the generous support of donors in order to continue on a path of excellence. Whether large or small, these gifts have direct, positive impact on our school.
XWhere do you call home?
I am originally from Memphis, TN.
How long have you been in business?
I have been working in administration or support for over 30 years.
What is your favorite part about your job?
My favorite part about my job is working and helping people.
What is your favorite thing about USJ?
My favorite thing about USJ is that it is close to home and it's beautiful grounds.
What is a fun fact about yourself?
I love Winter and love being out doors.
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Jim Hardegree
Associate Head of School, Upper School Dean of Students
XWhere do you call home?
Atlanta, Georgia
How long have you been in education?
Forty years
What is your favorite part about your job?
Working with our students
What is your favorite thing about USJ?
Community support
What is a fun fact about yourself?
I was cast as an extra in commercials and movies in high school.
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XWhere do you call home?
South Carolina, Pawleys Island and Columbia
How long have you been in education?
Almost 20 years
What is your favorite part about your job?
Working with the faculty, students, and parents.
What is your favorite thing about USJ?
The school spirit!
What is a fun fact about yourself?
I was Mr February in a calendar.
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XWhere do you call home?
Memphis, TN
How long have you been in education?
I have been in education since 2011
What is your favorite part about your job?
I enjoy tackling projects and working with the faculty, students, and parents.
What is your favorite thing about USJ?
My favorite thing about USJ is the strong, supportive community that is willing to go the extra mile for the betterment of our students. Faculty, staff, and families exude a genuine air of pride and ownership of our school, and it makes USJ unlike any other place.
What is a fun fact about...
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XWhere do you call home?
England
How long have you been in education?
Over 20 years
What is your favorite part about your job?
Supporting students to be all that they can be.
What is your favorite thing about USJ?
The students.
What is a fun fact about yourself?
I taught people how to scuba dive in the Red Sea for several years.
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Holly Stroup
Assistant Lower School Director and Early Childhood Coordinator
XWhere do you call home?
Selmer, TN
How long have you been in education?
Over 15 years
What is your favorite part about your job?
Seeing the smiles on the children's faces while they are having fun learning.
What is your favorite thing about USJ?
USJ is such a family oriented atmosphere.
What is a fun fact about yourself?
I love doing Kickboxing Classes.
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XWhere do you call home?
Jackson, TN
How long have you been in education?
I have been at USJ for over 35 years. Originally was at OHA (Old Hickory Academy) before merger with EDS (Episcopal Day School).
What is your favorite part about your job?
My favorite part of my job is working with the faculty/staff/students at the Lower School. l love being available to them to help make their day a positive and fun experience.
What is your favorite thing about USJ?
My favorite thing is the family and community atmosphere we have continued to obtain...
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XWhere do you call home?
Jackson has been home since 1990.
How long have you been in development/alumni relations?
I was a marketing executive in the newspaper industry for 29 years. Began working in the development/alumni office at USJ in 2016.
What is your favorite part about development and alumni relations?
Working with our entire USJ community!
What is your favorite thing about USJ?
Commitment to excellence!
What is a fun fact about yourself?
My husband, Charlie, and I are parents of two USJ alumni, Anna ('13) and Alex ('16) who both attended from PreK through graduation.
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XWhere do you call home?
Jackson, TN
How long have you been in education?
Over 25 years
What is your favorite part about college advising?
Getting to work with students as they work to become young adults.
What is your favorite thing about USJ?
Knowing that everyone wants the same thing: student success.
What is a fun fact about yourself?
My first job out of college was teaching English as Second Language to college students in the Czech Republic.
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XWhere do you call home?
Clarksville, TN
How long have you been an advisor?
Over 25 years
What is your favorite part about your job?
The students, hands down.
What is your favorite thing about USJ?
The families
What is a fun fact about yourself?
I was on the crew team in college.
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XWhere do you call home?
Waxahachie, Texas
How long have you been in education?
25 years in childcare - ten years as Director Of After School Programs and Camp Bruins
What is your favorite part about your job?
Building relationships with the Families in the program!
What is your favorite thing about USJ?
The feeling of family... and that we all work together for one common goal! It is all about our students and meeting their needs.
What is a fun fact about yourself?
I lived in the South Pacific for 7 years doing Missions work.
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XMelissa Zerfoss received a bachelor of business administration degree in management from the University of Mississippi. She has worked for many years as a Human Resources Administrator for several Fortune 500 companies, such as Georgia Pacific and Toro. She also has worked in office administration for the City of Olympia, Washington.
“My goal in this position is to work hard to build a productive and positive relationship with each student, parent, faculty, and staff member.”
She and her husband, Matt, a1990 USJ graduate, have two sons, Nick and Zach.
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XLaura Moore has been an educator for over 20 years, and she is in her fifteenth year at USJ. She has taught fourth grade, second grade, and was also the School Counselor at the Lower School.
Mrs. Moore has a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from the University of Mississippi and a Master's of Education with a License in School Counseling from Freed-Hardeman University.
Outside of the classroom, she enjoys spending time with her family. She and her husband, Baker, have two children. Walker is in tenth grade at USJ,...
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XPamela Stanfield is an award winning designer who has worked in marketing and advertising for over 15 years. She recently joined the University School of Jackson as the Director of Community Outreach. Prior to her time at USJ, Pam spent a decade working with Economic Development clients at Younger Associates in Jackson, TN, where she served as Director of Creative Services. Pam’s background also includes working as a designer in a small design boutique called Combustion for over three years in Memphis, TN. In 2004, she received her Bachelors of Fine Arts from Memphis College of Art. Pam is passionate...
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XWhere do you call home?
Jackson, TN
How long have you been in fundraising?
Over 20 years
What is your favorite part about fundraising?
Sharing the vision of USJ that allows the building of relationships (for the long term) with our primary donors: Current Parents
What is your favorite thing about USJ?
The passion that is evident in the students in all aspects of the education process.
What is a fun fact about yourself?
I can play multiple musical instruments pretty good: guitar, drums, bass, harmonica, ukulele but none GREAT!
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XWhere do you call home?
Memphis, TN
How long have you been in education?
Over 20 years
What is your favorite part about your job?
Learning alongside my students!
What is your favorite thing about USJ?
I enjoy getting to know the students and their families.
What is a fun fact about yourself?
I love to snorkel!
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XWhere do you call home?
Jackson, TN
How long have you been in IT/Robotics?
Less than 10 years
What is your favorite part about Robotics?
From resolving an issue to getting that a-ha moment from a student, that is what puts a smile on my face.
What is your favorite thing about USJ?
The positive environment/ culture is something that is rare in most school which USJ carries.
What is a fun fact about yourself?
I trained in kickboxing for 2 years at UTM.
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XWhere do you call home?
Jackson, TN
How long have you been in facilities management?
16 years
What is your favorite part about your job?
Working with my hands. Takings things that are broken and restoring them back to working condition.
What is your favorite thing about USJ?
The people that I get to work with.
What is a fun fact about yourself?
I like playing in the dirt.
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Contact us today to tour our campus, and see firsthand what the University School of Jackson has to offer.
