Jared Ragland

Jared Ragland is a fine art and documentary photographer and former White House photo editor. His visual practice incorporates interdisciplinary research methodologies to confront issues of identity, marginalization, and the history of place. Ragland’s mentor-driven pedagogy mirrors his socially engaged research. From the classroom to the field, Jared challenges and enables his students to consider the intellectual, aesthetic, and practical implications of photography while recognizing the medium’s power to record, reveal, and provoke change. Since joining USU in 2021, Ragland has directed undergraduate students through URCO and Summer Arts Research grants, gallery exhibitions and Student Research Symposium presentations, senior thesis projects, and professional development opportunities. His mentorship has extended to extracurricular appointments as a Columbus State University artist-in-residence and Auburn University at Montgomery Summer Research mentor. Select student projects include documentary work on the island of Malta; art historical research in Seoul; participation in the 2023 Society for Photographic Education national conference; and a 2023 Bear Lake Needs Assessment project grant to document issues surrounding Bear Lake. As Photography Area Coordinator, Ragland has developed curriculum, secured more than $100,000 in intramural funding to update labs and provide equitable access to equipment, and built a contemporary photobook research library—altogether fostering an active culture of learning and community and encouraging transformative growth in the lives and work of his students.