Japonica L. Brown, B.A., M.F.A., MS.Ed

 

Motivational Speaker, Director, Mentor, Actor, Writer

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​Japonica Brown graduated from Tougaloo College in 2008 with a Bachelors in English & Creative Writing. In 2011, Japonica Brown received a Masters of Fine Arts in Acting from Brandeis University. She made her television debut on ABC's Body of Proof playing the character “Amy.” In Spring 2014, she was named the Thad Cochran Distinguished Arts Educator of the Year by the Mississippi Alliance for Arts Education. In 2016, she became the Director of Theatre Arts at Bevill State Community College, where she created a theater department and program. Japonica Brown successfully started I Am Japonica, which provided motivational speaking, directing, producing, writing, and counseling services. In August 2019, she published a best-selling novel entitled, “I Have Something To Say” and the following year, May of 2020, Japonica completed her second Masters in School Counseling. In August 2020, Japonica Brown was asked to write and perform an original poem entitled “That’s Something To Be” for the Democratic National Convention Women’s Caucus Meeting. In 2021, Japonica Brown co-starred in the movie “A Day to Die” with Bruce Willis, Leon, and Kevin Dillon.

 

From 2022 to 2024, Japonica Brown served as the Fine Arts Department Chair and Theater Arts Instructor at her Alma Mater John L. LeFlore Magnet High School. She also has been an adjunct professor at various colleges and universities for the past 6 years. In 2023, she was commissioned by Mobile County Board of Commissioners to write and direct an original production that educated the city of Mobile residents on local Black history. In 2024, her original production “Souls of Time” debuted at the Mobile Civic Center Theater to an audience of over 2,000. Soon after, Japonica Brown started her own theater company called Samuel Edward Theater Company, named after her late father.  Japonica was asked to return as director of “Souls of Time”, at the Saenger Theater in January 2025. Japonica Brown has been a public educator for over 15 years and has taught hundreds, from 4th grade to undergraduate students. She now serves as the executive director of Samuel Edward Theater Company and provides acting training across the United States.

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