Jacqlyn Kirkland (Class of 2009)

Since graduating from the University of South Alabama with a B.A. in Anthropology and a minor in Art History, Jacqlyn Kirkland has built a career at the intersection of creativity, communication, and strategy. She is the co-founder of Johnson + Kirkland Media Group, a women-led creative firm specializing in digital strategy, communications, and storytelling. With more than 15 years of experience across marketing, media, and museum communications, she helps organizations build strong, authentic brands that connect with their audiences.

Before launching her own company, Jacqlyn managed online content and marketing for Hatton-Brown Publishers, overseeing six national trade publications and leading web redesigns and multi-channel campaigns. She has also worked in marketing and communications for the Alabama Historical Commission, where she coordinated statewide public relations efforts across 14 historic sites. Her career began in museums, where she worked with the History Museum of Mobile and the Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center, experiences that shaped her passion for connecting people with stories that matter.

In her own words: “Studying Anthropology at USA taught me how to see the world through a broader lens—and that curiosity still drives everything I do. Whether I’m helping a client build their brand or developing a creative campaign, I’m always looking for the human story at the center of it all.”