Ollie L. Jefferson, Ph.D.

About the Artist

Ollie L. Jefferson (Ph.D., Howard University) is a Producer, Playwright, Professor, Publisher, and the Founder/President and Chief Executive Officer of Timeless Visual Works – The Inspirational Film, Theater & Publishing Co. She formed the collegiate communication, culture, and multimedia organization with extensive experience in the arts and education. As a professional teaching artist, Dr. Jefferson designed Masterclasses at Timeless Theater Academy. She has a proven track record in educating and training film, television, and theatre professionals to compete in a global market. Her expertise as a communication consultant includes mentoring and advising students as a lecturer at the University of Maryland at College Park, George Mason University, Howard University, and more. She is a frequent guest speaker and lecturer on leadership, entrepreneurship, and advocating the intersection of gender and race in the arts and entertainment industry.   Dr. Jefferson's scholarly background in research approaches and methodologies contributes to policy discussions on women and people of color, particularly women of color. She coined the "exemplary representations" theoretical concept in her internationally distributed monograph, African American Women in the Oprah Winfrey Network's Queen Sugar Drama: Exemplary Representations on Screen and Behind the Scenes. The exemplary representations conceptual framework and model is a defining piece of her scholarship developed to illustrate examples or exemplars for social and systemic change.   As a teacher-scholar/artist, Dr. Jefferson specializes in diverse performances and creative practices to enlighten, educate, and entertain. Her award-winning work embodies inspiring teaching, writing, directing, producing, and performing. Time Will Tell: Stage I, II, and III by Dr. Ollie L. Jefferson is a timeless true story that uses personal experience (“auto”) to describe and interpret (“graphy”) cultural texts (journals and archival records), experiences, beliefs, and practices (“ethno”). The trilogy explores lived experiences and connects this autoethnography and autobiographical story to broader cultural, political, and social meaning and understanding. Dr. Jefferson directed and produced the autoethnographic performance at regional and national theaters, such as the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Page to Stage. She performed alongside her talented and gifted daughters, Nailah and Miniya, who portrayed the younger version of their mother. The memoir is available in multiple formats: paperback, e-book, and audiobook. Dr. Jefferson creatively expresses life's lesson by authentically portraying over a dozen characters through original storytelling in her audiobook, Time Will Tell: Stage Intro. The new media project brings to life the dramatic depiction of HERstory.   As a playwright, Dr. Jefferson has published fiction and non-fiction writings. Her creative storytelling includes theatrical plays entitled Can I Get a Witness, Rise Up, It Ain't Over Yet, and The Mommy Miniya & Me Show series. She wrote, directed, produced, and performed in 15 original stage plays and toured to over 65 locations, Theatre-making created the foundation for her television and filmmaking career. She directed and produced the Are You Ready music video distributed nationally on Columbia Broadcasting Inc. commonly shortened to CBS. Her independent filmmaking received the D.C. Commission of the Arts and Humanities Award. Her background involves various roles in corporate television, nationally syndicated talk shows, reality shows, and television commercials. The production roster includes Fox Broadcasting Company, NewsCorp, MTV The Real World and Road Rules, America's Black Forum, DirecTV, and NBA Entertainment. Dr. Jefferson is a two-time recipient of the Maryland State Arts Council's Individual Artist Award based on her "inspirational work and artist merit" represented in her productions. The awards supported the Time Will Tell trilogy. And as the playwright wrote, "It Ain't Over Yet!"   Become Inspired ... www.timelessvisualworks.com.

Artist's Statement

Timeless Visual Works is an inspirational multimedia organization producing projects and educating existing and aspiring industry professionals to compete in a global marketplace. Ollie L. Jefferson, Ph.D., designed masterclasses in film, theater, and publishing departments. Become Inspired ...