Jessica Fay

Jessica Fay serves as the Jo Rowan Endowed Chair of Dance, Ballet and Professor of Dance at Oklahoma City University, where she chairs the Ballet Department, advises dance performance degree students, and choreographs for the Star Dance Company. Her multifaceted career integrates professional performance experience with educational leadership in dance arts.

Her academic credentials include:

• Master of Fine Arts in Dance (Oklahoma City University)
• Bachelor of Performing Arts in Dance Performance (Oklahoma City University)
• Early training with Charlotte Wendel (Minnesota)
• Advanced training via scholarships at Minnesota Ballet and Zenon Dance Company
• Two decades of ballet pedagogy mentorship under Jo Rowan and Kay Sandel

Professor Fay's research focuses on ballet pedagogy implementation through the ABT® National Training Curriculum, choreographic innovation, and comparative arts management practices. Her faculty development trip to Ireland examined international arts administration models, directly informing her work with the Oklahoma Performing Arts Collective—a non-profit she co-founded to support artist well-being. This interdisciplinary approach bridges performance, education, and organizational leadership.

While no formal scientific awards are documented, her Jo Rowan Endowed Chair appointment and ABT® certification signify distinguished professional recognition within dance education.

As academic advisor for OCU's dance performance program, she guides student development while leading the Star Dance Company's creative output. Her founding board role with the Oklahoma Performing Arts Collective demonstrates commitment to systemic support for artists, complemented by international research on arts management structures. Notable creative contributions include serving as artistic director and choreographer for the original production "Shades of Love".

Professor Fay maintains active engagement with the Star Dance Company through ongoing choreography and mentorship, cultivating performance opportunities that integrate academic training with professional artistic practice.