Colleen Longshaw Jackson

Colleen Longshaw Jackson is a Lecturer of Music Theatre at Baldwin Wallace University and Director of Community Partnerships and Programming at Cleveland Play House. She holds an M.F.A. and B.A. from Kent State University. Jackson leads the CARE program (Compassionate Arts Remaking Education), funded by a U.S. Department of Education grant, which utilizes theatre education to enhance social-emotional competencies and English Language Arts in K-12 students.

Her research focuses on:

• Integrating theatre pedagogy with social-emotional learning frameworks
• Anti-racism and equity/diversity/inclusion (EDI) training for arts organizations
• Trauma-informed approaches to dismantling systemic oppression
• Strategic planning for organizational transformation

Key professional contributions include:

• Certified Trauma Professional applying clinical knowledge to EDI facilitation
• Extensive acting career with Actor's Equity Association since 2003
• Development of innovative arts education models through federal grants