Education
2021 | University of Mississippi | MA Journalism | Oxford, MS
2020 | Maine College of Art | MFA Studio Art | Portland, ME
1994 | Millsaps College | BA Spanish | Jackson, MS
Additional Education & Certification
2019 | National Association for Interpretation | Certification Workshop | Little Rock, AR
2019 | National Park Service | Interpretation, Education, and Storytelling | Jacksonville, FL
2017 | Delta Music Institute | Pro Tools audio software certification | Cleveland, MS
Professional Experience
2021 - Present | Asst. Professor of Art | Troy University | Troy, AL
2019 - Present | Executive Director | Jacks Farms Artist Residencies | Cleveland, MS
2019 - 2021 | Program Manager | Mississippi Delta National Heritage Area | Cleveland, MS
2018 | Digital Media Advisor | Delta State University | Cleveland, MS
2016 - 2019 | Communications Consultant | Mississippi Delta National Heritage Area | Cleveland, MS
2016 - 2019 | Communications Consultant | Delta Center for Culture and Learning | Cleveland, MS
2015 - 2018 | Adjunct Instructor of Art | Delta State University | Cleveland, MS
2014 - 2017 | Adjunct Instructor of Journalism | University of Mississippi | Oxford, MS
2014 | Visiting Instructor of Photography | Delta State University | Cleveland, MS
1997 - present | Freelance Photographer & Filmmaker | wiljax, Inc. | Cleveland, MS
Selected Exhibitions
2024 | B24: Wiregrass Biennial | Wiregrass Museum of Art | Dothan, AL
2024 | Rabbit, Rabbit | Central Library | Birmingham, AL
2024 | Southland | Ogden Museum of Southern Art | New Orleans, LA
2023 | featured photographer at Les Nuits Photographiques de Pierrevert | Pierrevert, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, France
2023 | Alabama A to Z | Montgomery Museum of Fine Art | Montgomery, AL
2023 | Montgomery Photo Festival | Stonehenge Gallery | Montgomery, AL
2022 | Currents | Ogden Museum of Southern Art | New Orleans, LA
2022 | featured photographer at Photographic Nights of Selma | Selma, AL
2022 | Absolute Rest | International Arts Center , Troy University | Troy, AL
2022 | Louisiana Biennial | Louisiana Tech University | Ruston, LA
2021 | Mississippi Invitational | Mississippi Museum of Art | Jackson, MS
2021 | Sorry We Missed You | Institute of Contemporary Art at Maine College of Art | Portland, ME
2021 | Southbound: Photographs of and about the New South | Lake City Creative Alliance | Lake City, SC
2020 | Four Artists | The Museum of the Mississippi Delta | Greenwood, MS
2020 | Biennial (in collaboration with Elyse Noelani Grams) | Center for Maine Contemporary Art | Rockland, ME
2020 | Portrait of a Juke Joint | Gammill Gallery, University of Mississippi | Oxford, MS
2020 | Southbound: Photographs of and about the New South | LSU Museum of Art | Louisiana State University | Baton Rouge, LA
2020 | Southbound: Photographs of and about the New South | The Mississippi Arts & Entertainment Experience | Meridian, MS
2020 | Southbound: Photographs of and about the New South | Hunter Museum of American Art | Chattanooga, TN
2019 | Poverty & Privilege | William J Clinton Presidential Library and Museum | Little Rock, AR
2019 | Southbound: Photographs of and about the New South | Power Plant Gallery | Duke University | Durham, NC
2019 | Southbound: Photographs of and about the New South | Gregg Museum of Art & Design | NC State University | Raleigh, NC
2018 | Southbound: Photographs of and about the New South | Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art | Charleston, SC
2017 | Faculty Show | Delta State University | Cleveland, MS
2016 | Slow Exposures Mural Exhibition | Concord, GA
2016 | Faculty Show | Delta State University | Cleveland, MS
2015 | Faculty Show | Delta State University | Cleveland, MS
2014 | Faculty Show | Delta State University | Cleveland, MS
2014 | The Art of Delta State University | Northwest Community College | Senatobia, MS
2012 | Slow Exposures Festival | Concord, GA
2011 | Slow Exposures Festival | Concord, GA
Publications
2019 | Po’ Monkey’s: Portrait of a Juke Joint | University Press of Mississippi
Awards & Nominations
2023 | Alabama A to Z | Richard Mills Award
2022 | Photographic Nights of Selma | Juror’s Award
2021 | Mississippi Institute for Arts & Letters | Excellence in Photography nominee
2020 | Mississippi Institute for Arts & Letters | Excellence in Photography winner
2018 | Mississippi Arts Commission | awarded an artist mini-grant
2011 | Mississippi Arts Commission | awarded an artist mini-grant
2006 | Mississippi Institute for Arts & Letters | Excellence in Photography nominee
Selected Articles, Interviews & Presentations
2022 | Troy Today | https://today.troy.edu/faculty-staff/thursday-reception-set-for-will-jacks-absolute-rest-exhibit-at-troys-international-arts-center/
2022 | TROYVision | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twE6I4Hq8h8
2022 | Mississippi Artist to Artist | https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tlybartmag-interview-welcome-to-jx-farms/id1539298657?i=1000554817032
2021 | Mississippi Artist to Artist | https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/will-jacks-public-art-pt-3/id1539298657?i=1000515465018
2020 | The Mississippi Arts & Entertainment Experience | https://fb.watch/2bwYEMkQt5/
2019 | Mississippi Arts Hour | http://msartshour.mpbonline.org/episodes/the-mississippi-arts-hour-will-jacks
2019 | Mississippi Civil Rights Museum | https://www.facebook.com/MDAHOfficial/videos/512457062910683/
2019 | Garden & Gun | https://gardenandgun.com/articles/portraits-delta-gem-po-monkeys/
2019 | Lenscratch | https://lenscratch.com/2019/03/southbound-photographs-of-and-about-the-new-south-day-7/
2019 | Clarion Ledger | https://msbookspage.wordpress.com/2019/10/07/author-q-a-with-will-jacks/
2017 | Mississippi Folk Life | http://www.mississippifolklife.org/photo-essays/remembering-po-monkeys-lounge
2016 | Lenscratch | http://lenscratch.com/2016/12/will-jacks-the-states-project-mississippi/
2013 | The Candid Frame | http://thecandidframe.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-candid-frame-188-will-jax.html?q=will+jacks
University Courses Taught
Photojournalism
Mulitmedia Storytelling
Intro to Analog Photography
Intro to Digital Photography
Advanced Darkroom
Advanced Digital
Documentary Photography
Documenting the Blues
Live Music Video Recording and Production
Stop Motion Animation
Large Format Photography
Lighting for Photography
History of Photography
Digital Tools / Intro to Adobe Software
Intro to Form & Space / 2d Design
Art & Business