About Us

Who We Are:

J.B. Rucker & Associates is a boutique consulting/training practice. We enhance organizational productivity by providing customized services for addressing Diversity Equity & Inclusion (DEI), leadership development, youth development, and asset-based problem solving using the ABCD methodology. Our team of professionals have combined expertise spanning over 100 years; our experience traverses diverse research- driven industries including but not limited to education, health care, museums & cultural centers, manufacturing, and law. By maximizing our strengths, we provide our clients with the expertise of a large full-service company, simultaneously our size enables us to pivot to meet the exacting needs of clients.

Our Mission:

J.B. Rucker & Associates assists corporate, education, healthcare, and non-profit organizations by providing custom services, training, cultural education events, and simulations. Our expertise is in the areas of DEI, leadership development, youth development, and arts & culture. 

Our Vision:

J.B. Rucker & Associates is a successful training and consulting practice that produces creative problem-solving solutions. We are known for our innovative approach to engaging groups and individuals where they are, helping to propel them to where they aspire to be. 

Our Approach:

We believe for an organization to have sustainable success that organization will need to intentionally cultivate the type of culture that they want; we also believe that to be a culture that encourages team members to establish relationships with one another. Positive relationships are the basis for cultures that promote respect and dignity and position the organization to be able to hold difficult conversations on sensitive topics when needed. Our style is to facilitate discussions that do not leave participants feeling attacked but instead invite them to engage with their peers in positive, educational and cultural conversations.

Jacquelyn Rucker, MSEd:

Jacquelyn Burns Rucker is founder and president of J.B. Rucker & Associates. Rucker has a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame in American Studies with specialities in communication, government, and economics. Her master’s degree in Organizational Leadership has a secondary education focus and was conferred by Indiana University, South Bend campus. A graduate of the AABHE Leadership & Mentoring Institute, she is currently a Ph.D. candidate in the Higher Education Administration and Leadership program of the Bayh School of Education at Indiana State University. Her research is on the use of arts and culture facilities to facilitate a sense of belonging for minoritized students on predominantly White college campuses.

Rucker’s work experience parallels her education. Most recently, Ms. Rucker worked as director of diversity in the financial services industry. Previously she worked for the University of Notre Dame where she served as Associate Director of Community Relations and focused on cultivating the University’s relationships with local and regional communities. This work was an essential part of her role on the leadership team that established Eddy Street Commons Phase I, a $200 million dollar retail complex that bridges the university and the community. In her role, she also established Notre Dame Downtown an arts and education engagement space for campus and community. She then worked to transition Notre Dame Downtown into the Notre Dame Center for Arts and Culture, which in addition to the Office of Community Relations, housed the Crossroads Gallery of Art, Segura Arts Studio (a collaborative print studio), an after school initiative for grades 2-4, multiple community outreach initiatives that focused on diverse arts and culture and Walking Alongside, a series of workshops and conferences designed to assist family caregivers. 

Rucker previously worked as corporate diversity manager and also as management development specialist for Memorial Health System. While at Memorial Health System, she launched a number of initiatives, including diversity training for employees, policies to promote a diverse workforce and community, national and regional relationships to foster a culture that embraces diversity. Her resume also includes experience as a college admissions counselor, financial aid administrator (both at Notre Dame), and human resource administrator in the aerospace division of Allied-Signal.

Ms. Rucker is passionate about education and believes that critical thinking skills are essential tools that can be utilized at any age. She has developed several middle school initiatives, including Innovative Thinkers Camp, an academy that she and Iris Outlaw created with colleagues to promote entrepreneurship. She is currently designing a line a preschool learning kits to help children develop educational fundamentals while playing. These montessori style kits will help parents insure that their children are kindergarten ready.

Iris Outlaw, MSA

Ms. Iris Outlaw obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from Indiana University and Masters of Science in Administration from the University of Notre Dame. She has obtained diversity certification through Texas A & M Diversity Education Institute and National Multicultural Institute.  Outlaw is the former Director of Multicultural Student Program and Services at the University of Notre Dame. She perceived the opportunity to serve historically underrepresented students as a vocation, which replicated her experience as an undergraduate in Bloomington, Indiana. She is committed to nurturing the pipeline to create scholars and leaders. In her position with the university, she assisted the ethnic student organizations with their programming, student leadership development and counseled students as well as oversaw the daily operation of the office. Outlaw facilitated diversity and team building workshops not only for the Notre Dame community, but also for the South Bend and Parochial School systems. She has conducted faculty training and consulting for universities. Ms. Outlaw has given presentations on diversity issues at local, national and international conferences. Ms. Outlaw taught the C.S.C. Cultural Diversity Seminar for over twelve years and was the coordinator for the Practicum on Diversity Education. She was an instructor for the Moreau First Year Experience course and co-instructor of the White Privilege Course. 

Throughout her career, Ms. Outlaw served on numerous local and national boards. Ms. Outlaw has served on several CAS Review Teams evaluating Multicultural Student Affairs Offices at peer institutions. She was a charter member and officer of the American Association of Blacks in Higher Education (AABHE) Board, and is currently serving on the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity National Advisory Committee. At the 2015 AABHE Conference, Ms. Outlaw received the 2015 AABHE Exemplary Public Service Award. During the 2018-2019 academic year, Ms. Outlaw received the University of Notre Dame Student Affairs' "Pop" Farley Award and the Department of Africana Studies Freedom Award. Both, acknowledged her efforts internally and externally to advocate for those disenfranchised and representing the institution nationally and internationally. 

Pamela Young, J.D.

We have a collaborative partnership with Pamela Nolan Young of PNY Strategic Consulting. Pamela is an attorney, educator, and human resources professional certified by the Society of Human Resource Management. Pamela has more than 25 years of experience in employment and labor law, Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) legal issues, diversity training, personnel management, and strategic initiatives.