John L. Jackson, Jr.

John L. Jackson, Jr. is the Richard Perry University Professor and Provost of the University of Pennsylvania. He holds appointments in the Department of Anthropology, Annenberg School for Communication, and Africana Studies. His research bridges race theory, visual anthropology, and media studies, focusing on topics like globalization, critical race theory, and urban studies. Jackson earned his Ph.D. in Anthropology from Columbia University (2000) and B.A. in Communication from Howard University (1993). He has produced award-winning documentaries including Bad Friday and co-founded CAMRA, an initiative advancing visual ethnography.

His work includes influential books such as Thin Description (2013) and Racial Paranoia (2008), exploring racial identity and media representation. Jackson has served as Dean of the Annenberg School and School of Social Policy & Practice, emphasizing interdisciplinary scholarship and diversity initiatives. His teaching awards and leadership underscore his commitment to innovative academic practices.

Key achievements include editing Oxford Bibliographies in Anthropology and producing films screened globally. His research spans media ethnography, religious studies, and diaspora communities, with grants from NSF and Ford Foundation. Jackson’s labs CAMRA and Center for Experimental Ethnography pioneer multimodal research methods.