John Jackson

John L. Jackson Jr. is a prominent academic leader who currently serves as the Provost and Richard Perry University Professor at the University of Pennsylvania, following his roles as Dean of the School of Social Policy & Practice and Dean of the Annenberg School for Communication. Born in 1971, he earned his BA in Communications from Howard University in 1993, followed by MA, MPhil, and PhD in Anthropology from Columbia University. As Penn's first PIK (Penn Integrates Knowledge) Professor, he has bridged multiple disciplines through his work as an urban researcher, media ethnographer, and theorist of race/ethnicity. His scholarly contributions include influential books such as "Real Black," "Racial Paranoia," and "Harlemworld," examining contemporary issues of race, class, and culture in America. Jackson's impact extends beyond traditional academia through his work as a filmmaker and founder of CAMRA, a Penn initiative focused on visual and performative research. His leadership has been marked by successful faculty recruitment, innovative teaching approaches, and significant fundraising achievements, leading to his appointment as Penn's 31st Provost in 2023, making him the second Black provost in the university's history.