John L. Jackson Jr.

John L. Jackson Jr. serves as the University of Pennsylvania's Provost and holds the Richard Perry University Professorship in Communication and Anthropology. He concurrently serves as Dean of the School of Social Policy & Practice. His academic journey includes a BA in Communication from Howard University and a PhD in Anthropology from Columbia University, followed by a Harvard University Society of Fellows Junior Fellowship.

His research focuses on ethnographic film, race theory, globalization, and cultural studies. He has produced films like Bad Friday: Rastafari After Coral Gardens (2012) and authored influential books such as Harlemworld (2001) and Thin Description (2013). His work bridges anthropology, media studies, and urban sociology, often examining racial dynamics and cultural identity.

His publications consistently address intersections of race, media, and power, with recent works analyzing Black religious media and transnational diaspora communities. He has received grants from the National Science Foundation, Ford Foundation, and Lilly Endowment.

Awarded the Harvard Society of Fellows Junior Fellowship, Jackson's career spans academia and filmmaking. He previously served as Senior Advisor to the Provost on Diversity and Associate Dean at the Annenberg School for Communication.