School of Fine Arts and Communication Dean – Darren Lawson

In addition to his administrative responsibilities as dean, Dr. Lawson also serves as producer over all of our productions here at BJU.  He's one of the main stage directors in our 2,600-seat Rodeheaver Auditorium.  He is a national award-winning stage director, having directed many musicals and operas during the last 20 years:

• Titanic: The Musical

• Little Women: The Broadway Musical

• A Tale of Two Cities: The Musical

• Samson et Dalila

• Aida

• Il Trovatore

• Mefistofele

• Simeon

He is also a frequent actor in BJU’s Classic Players Association, portraying such roles as Cyrano in Cyrano de Bergerac, Leontes in The Winter’s Tale, Gloucester in King Lear, Nick Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Jaques in As You Like It, and many more.

In 2020, Dr. Lawson was named an Honored Artist of The American Prize. Lawson, along with seven other individuals, received this distinction for “sustained excellence” over multiple competition seasons.

Dr. Lawson teaches graduate courses in the Division of Communication.  He also co-teaches Musical Theatre Workshop in the Division of Music.  He has over 35 years of teaching experience and appreciates the opportunity to help his students become the best servants of Christ in their future careers and ministries.

He and his wife, Sarah Lawson, a teacher for BJU Press Digital, love getting to know students and having them to their home.