Family, friends and colleagues will remember the life of Jackie Sparks on May 13

All are invited to remember the life of dear friend, mentor, professor and colleague, Human Development and Family Science professor Jaqueline Sparks, who was a who passed away in November after a long battle with cancer. A memorial to Jackie’s life is scheduled for Saturday May 13, 1-2 p.m. at the Farmer’s Daughter in Kingston.

Sparks was an avid gardener and lover of nature, and as a tribute, memorial organizers aim to spread her garden among many of the lives she touched. In her memory, they ask particpants to add a plant to their own personal gardens or to a public garden in her honor, and then share a photo of their plants after the memorial.

“Our hope is to create a virtual tribute that showcases the nature planted in Jackie’s honor,” Associate Professor Tiffani Kisler said. “As we gather together, this will be a time for us to share our memories and stories of Jackie. This event is open to all, family members are welcome. We hope you can join us.”

Sparks’ primary research interests involved evaluation of routine outcome management in psychotherapy and the critique of automatic psychiatric drug prescription in mental health services, particularly for children and adolescents. Her practical synthesis of findings of the Norway Couple Project, the largest couple trial to date using systematic client feedback, was awarded Article of the Year by Journal of Marital and Family Therapy.

Sparks, who worked with the Couple and Family Therapy Program, taught the promotion of strengths-based, relational therapy; the systematic incorporation of client feedback in everyday practice settings; and transforming systems of care to promote socially-just, client-privileged practices. She co-authored 30 articles, four books, and 20 book chapters in her career.

“Jackie was acclaimed around the world as a leader in therapy training and honoring the client’s voice, and was a mighty critic challenging the overuse of psychiatric medications in children,” Kisler said. “Shortly before her passing, Jackie was honored with a major lifetime achievement award for her contributions to our field. Jackie was a true trailblazer. Through the groundbreaking training methods Jackie has implemented, her legacy will continue to live on.”