In addition to being praised by her family as a wonderful wife, daughter, and mother of three children aged 13 and younger, Jackson also finds time-somehow-to develop innovative Food Chemistry classes for nonscientific types and even to demonstrate principles of chemical education at her children’s schools.

Daughter/Researcher: Linking Licorice to Prostate Cancer
During Jackson’s early research, both of her parents were diagnosed with forms of cancer-her mother with Stage 1 Breast Cancer and her father with Stage 1 Prostate Cancer. After moving both of her parents to Atlanta where she could care for them, and though still heavily involved with her research and pregnant with her second child, Jackson continued her work with even greater vigor. Ten years late, Jackson’s second child just celebrated a tenth birthday, and both of Jackson’s parents celebrated their ten-year (health) anniversary.

When asked how his wife can be so much to so many, accomplishing more than even seems possible in a lifetime-let alone a few short years, Smith explains, “My wife is not one to listen to naysayers. She explores the possibilities, researches the facts, makes informed decisions, and sets the pupnmag.com DECE MBER 2012 9 goal(s). At home, we work together as a team to handle the varied tasks and responsibilities associated with raising three intelligent, articulate, and active children in today’s society.”

Their children are clearly a source of great pride for both of them. Though Kameron and Karmen are both very analytical and logical-not surprising as the children of brilliant scientists-Kayla, the oldest at 13, is currently a lover of Creative Writing and playing the flute. Jackson adds that her youngest, Karmen, “does it all”-which certainly isn’t surprising