Lawrence M. Jackson

Lawrence M. Jackson is a distinguished educator, choreographer, and scholar whose career bridges performance, academia, and cultural advocacy. He holds a BFA in Dance from The University of Southern Mississippi and an MFA in Dance from Florida State University. Currently, he serves as Professor of Dance and Assistant Dean for Faculty Affairs in the College of Visual and Performing Arts at George Mason University. Previously, Lawrence held leadership roles at the University of Alabama, including Associate Chair of Dance and Director of Graduate Studies. He also served as artistic director for multiple university productions, shaping the creative landscape of the department. A former member of the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble, Lawrence has performed and presented work nationally and internationally, including his solo piece I Walk with Spirit at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. As a prolific choreographer, he has created over 95 original works, including Separate and Equal, which earned an AUDELCO Award nomination for Best Choreography. Lawrence is a sought-after guest artist and master teacher, contributing to institutions such as the University of Michigan, USC, UNLV, and major festivals including the American Ballet Theatre Summer Intensive and the International Association of Blacks in Dance. His scholarship centers on Black Dance, including a landmark special edition of the Journal of Pan African Studies. He serves on the editorial board of Siyabonana: The Journal of Africana Studies and was honored with The University of Alabama’s President’s Faculty Research Award for Mid-Career Scholar.