Jenifer Craig, Department Chair

Jenifer Pashkowski Craig joined the dance faculty at the University of Oregon as a visiting assistant professor in 1973. She then taught in the dance program at the University of Southern California (1977-1981), returning to become an assistant professor in the department of dance of the UO for the second time in 1986. Dr. Craig was promoted to associate professor and named department chair in 1992. As Theatre Director of Dougherty Dance Theare, she is responsible for supervising all department performances, and designs lights for faculty and guest artist works.

Jenifer choreographs for faculty productions and for the department's touring group, University of Oregon Repertory Dance Company, for which she serves as co-director. She teaches modern dance history and the aesthetics course for graduate students, as well as pedagogy, improvisation, composition, and modern dance. When time permits, she shares the dances she learned long ago from Percival Borde with the students in African dance classes.

Jenifer earned a B.A. in Dance (1971) and holds an M.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies: Dance, Theatre, and Community Service and Public Affairs (1973) from the University of Oregon. She earned a Ph.D. from the University of Southern California in Physical Education, with special emphases in dance history and dance philosophy (1982). Her research focus is modern dance history, and in particular, Bella Lewitzky. She has served on the Editorial Board of the Congress on Research in Dance and on the Board of Directors of the Society of Dance History Scholars.