Victoria Jackson

Victoria Jackson is a sports historian and Clinical Assistant Professor of History in the School of Historical, Philosophical, and Religious Studies at Arizona State University.  Jackson writes and speaks about the intersection of sport and society, exploring how the games we play (and watch) tell us much about the communities – local, national, and global – in which we live.  Her writing has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, Boston Globe, Slate, Letras Libres, Epoca, and The Independent, and she is a frequent podcast, radio, TV, and documentary film commentator on sport and society. 

Jackson teaches a package of sports history courses, which form part of an interdisciplinary, liberal arts undergraduate certificate in “sports, cultures, and ethics.”  She is writing a book on privilege and power in American big-time college sports, connecting race and gender justice issues through stories of athlete activism, and exploring how black athlete labor pays for white athlete privilege.  She is affiliated faculty with the Global Sport Institute at ASU.

She holds MA and PhD degrees from Arizona State University, and a BA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she graduated summa cum laude and joined Phi Beta Kappa.  Jackson was also a cross country and track and field athlete for UNC and ASU, NCAA national champion for the Sun Devils at 10,000 meters, and professional runner endorsed by Nike.  Jackson works with Sun Devil Athletics on a variety of history, education, and leadership initiatives with athletes, coaches, administrators, and the greater Sun Devil community.  She would like for her ASU school record in the 5,000 meters to be broken as soon as possible.