Owning Your Stage, Sharing the Spotlight

One Georgia Southern Graduate’s Pursuit of Joy Uplifts Local Community

Teresa-Michelle Walker Jackson (’04) is designing a world where everyone feels seen and heard. Today, she serves as the Savannah Black Heritage Festival’s executive director, executive communication advisor of Walker J Consulting and a local director, producer and actress. 

However, Jackson has been developing her skills since she was a young girl growing up in south Georgia. 

“Coming from Waycross, I wasn’t used to seeing a lot of people like me in my own community, let alone on the stage,” Jackson said. “I am Black and Korean, and the only person I knew with that identity in the area other than my brother.”

Career options appeared limited in the close-knit community. For Jackson, it seemed as though there were two paths most students chose: agriculture or teaching. 

“Although they are dutiful professions, I felt drawn to a creative lifestyle, but many of the people around me felt that that lifestyle was supposed to be more of an after work hobby than a dedicated career path.”

But after a high school English teacher introduced Jackson to the art of theater, a quiet, but persistent song began to echo in the back of her mind. 

“It started with just reading classic literature, but she presented the idea of theater, and my world began to open up,” she recalled. 

An educator, mentor and inspiration, Jackson’s high school teacher became the spark that motivated her toward a life of directorship, acting, creative career coaching and uplifting Savannah’s most vibrant communities. But before leading productions of her own, she began her bachelor’s degree, choosing Georgia Southern University’s Communication Arts program. 

It was in college that the familiar song, and embracing the power of creative expression, began to grow louder. 

Jackson explained, “It wasn’t until I came to Georgia Southern that I discovered the dynamic, and ever-changing world of Black theater. I don’t remember reading a play by Black playwrights until I was introduced to it by Dr. Mical Whitaker.”

Whitaker served as the first African American instructor for Georgia Southern’s theater program and would go on to retire as a Professor Emeritus in 2005. However, his legacy remains inspirational for students like Jackson through the Mical Whitaker Scholarship for the Study of African American Theatre. 

“Dr. Whitaker transformed classic theatrical productions like Shakespeare or Greek tragedies and reimagined these works to reflect Black experiences and vocal expression,” she said. “He made me realize, as a student, that I had the ability to connect with stories not only from other backgrounds and cultures, but throughout the ages.”

After graduating from Georgia Southern with a bachelor’s degree in Communications and Theater, Jackson continued her education by applying for graduate school at The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). She asked Whitaker to write her recommendation letter for her Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Media and Performing Arts application. 

“He told me, ‘You’ll be a great director someday,’” Jackson said.

She corrected the local theater legend, affirming that her true passion would always be acting. 

“As I said, a great director,” Whitaker responded. 

Jackson became a professor at Savannah State University (SSU) at the age of 24 after completing an MFA. During her 15 years in higher education, she served as the associate dean of SSU’s College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, became a tenured faculty member and developed and directed the school’s theater program. 

But the world shifted for everybody in 2020. 

“It wasn’t that I was unhappy in my role, but part of me wanted to return to a more active place in the industry where I was back in the middle of it all with the people that fueled this passion in the first place,” she said. 

Jackson decided to make a bold move. 

“I was still directing and producing plays at Savannah State, but I hadn’t had the opportunity to work in that capacity fulltime. So despite being tenured, I took a bet on myself again,” Jackson thoughtfully recounted. 

A single phone call would be the catalyst for the next chapter in her story. 

“I got a call one day from someone in my network asking if I was still interested in working in the film industry,” said Jackson. “The role, at first, was supposed to be for two days to fill in for someone who was out. Before I knew it, I was working on “Juror #2” directed by Clint Eastwood with Warner Brothers, Ava DuVernay, owner of the independent distribution company, ARRAY, and also “Fellow Travelers,” a Showtime series with Jonathan Bailey and Matt Bomer.”

In 2023, the SAG-AFTRA strike changed the industry. The lack of work did not deter Jackson, however. She was soon presented with another exciting opportunity: coaching creatives on their communication and networking skills at SCAD through SCADamp. This brought her back to the realm of higher education while still working regularly with industry experts. 

While cultivating creative talent in Savannah, Jackson also accepted the role as executive director of the Savannah Black Heritage Festival. She has served the city for six years, fostering vibrant storytelling of African American communities through performance art, exhibits and activities that attract people from all walks of life to celebrate Black excellence.

“The festival is presented by Savannah State University and is sponsored annually by the City of Savannah’s Department of Cultural Resources. We’ve had incredible opportunities to bring in diverse talent, including the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble, among many other fantastic creatives. The crowds continue to grow each year, and it’s great to see so many people appreciate Black cultural arts,” Jackson said. 

However, Jackson is always ready to jump back into the director’s chair when called upon. In April 2026, she directed a production of “Sweat” by Lynn Nottage, which she produced for Georgia Southern’s Main Stage Series in Statesboro. 

Her return to Georgia Southern’s Statesboro Campus years after graduating highlighted one of the many ways the University left a lasting impact on Jackson. 

“Georgia Southern opened up my world to other people,” she explained. “While completing my undergraduate degree, I met students from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds, from big cities and small towns.”

Today, as Jackson continues to direct, inspire and celebrate the richness of Black culture in Savannah and beyond, she remains guided by the lessons of her journey. 

Taking on her newest role as founder and executive communication advisor of Walker J Consulting, she works with organizations and executives to strengthen leadership communication, presence, and alignment while serving as a strategic partner who guides initiatives, shapes culture and drives results from within. Additionally, Jackson is also completing her Ph.D. in psychology through National University, demonstrating her ongoing commitment to learning and higher education.

“My time at Georgia Southern helped lay the foundation for me to tell the important stories – even if they aren’t mine. Ultimately, when I tell these hard stories and help people become the best they can be, my goal is to ensure that no one ever feels like they don’t belong in this world,” Jackson said.

True joy is not found in owning the stage alone, but also in sharing the spotlight with others and amplifying the songs inside all our hearts that drive us forward into greatness.

— Emily Dietrich