Biography
Early Life
Janice Dean Wills was born on February 25, 1948, in Docena, Alabama, into a Baptist family. Her dad, Oram Willis, was a steelworker and a deacon at their church, and her mom, Dorothy, took care of their home. Growing up in the South during the late Jim Crow era when laws were unfair to Black people, Jan was around many discussions about the Civil Rights Movement and the Ku Klux Klan. These talks influenced her to see the world with kindness. Jan was known for being thoughtful and always asking questions, preferring to talk things out instead of fighting. Thanks to her teachers and family, she got a scholarship to Cornell University. During her time there, Willis discovered Buddhism through activists protesting the Vietnam War. This experience inspired her to embark on a path of religious activism and a commitment to social justice.
At 19, Willis started learning about Buddhism in Nepal and India, and she kept studying it for 40 years. Her time in these countries really opened her eyes. She became someone who strongly believes in the power of conversations between different cultures to increase understanding, especially between Eastern and Western views. Meeting Lama Yeshe in Nepal was a turning point for her. It helped her discover her true self. Willis finished her education with a Ph.D. in Indic and Tibetan Studies from Columbia University, after getting her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Cornell.
Social Justice & Religious Activism
Besides her work as a teacher and scholar, Willis has also made a big impact outside of academia. She is a strong advocate for equality and social justice. Her involvement in the Civil Rights Movement and her time learning from Lama Yeshe showed her how group efforts and healing can lead to positive changes. This inspired her deep commitment to activism. She has pushed for Buddhism to be open to everyone, no matter their background.
Willis’s articles and books share the deep understanding and insight she gained in her spiritual path. In her writings, she explores ideas about kindness, being present in the moment, and the power of change. For example, she writes about her spiritual journey and coming-of-age in her memoir titled, Dreaming Me: An African American Woman’s Spiritual Journey. She emphasizes the importance of how she is both a Baptist and Buddhist. Another example is her essays on the importance of dharma. Willis draws on Buddha’s teachings to show how we can heal from trauma. Many people respect her work for the unique insights and deep understanding she offers in religion. She does not stick to what people usually expect from Black spiritual leaders. Willis keeps giving talks and leading conferences about Buddhism and racism to share her knowledge with others.
Dr. Jan Willis is well-known and admired in religious studies for her motivational spirit, her work towards including everyone in religion, and her dedication to making the world just and compassionate. She used to teach religion at Wesleyan University, where she is now a professor emerita, and she is also teaching as a Visiting Professor at Agnes Scott College.
