Get to Know Acclaimed Author, Ball State Graduate J.R. Jamison
J.R. Jamison Photo credit: Matt Howell
As co-founder of the non-profit organization The Facing Project, Ball State graduate J.R. Jamison encourages people to tell their stories and share their personal truths as a way to foster greater understanding and empathy for one another. Organic storytelling is at the heart of The Facing Project’s mission. So, it was no surprise when, in 2021, Mr. Jamison candidly shared his story in his acclaimed, award-winning memoir, “Hillbilly Queer.” After giving voice—literally, as the narrator—to the audiobook of “Hillbilly Queer,” it made the Library Journal’s list of Best Audiobooks of 2023, released earlier this year. In all, 10 non-fiction audiobooks were selected. Mr. Jamison, ’01 MA ’03, of Muncie, is in good company on this list, which includes creatives such as world-famous comedian, actor, and writer Steve Martin. Also, the “Hillbilly Queer” audiobook received a coveted “Starred Review” from the Library Journal. Getting the news about making this list was very much an “Am I dreaming?” moment for Mr. Jamison, he said. Even with honors such as this, he remains drawn to the different ways books impact readers.
The paperback edition of “Hillbilly Queer” was the silver winner of the 2022 Nautilus Book Award for Best Memoir and a finalist for the 2022 Indiana Authors Award.
Why He Shared His Story
J.R. Jamison’s memoir tells his heartfelt story of how he and his father, Dave Jamison—who differ on politics and in other ways—found that empathy for, and understanding of, one another got them back to those things that bond them as family and as humans. This discovery occurred on a road trip the father and son made to attend Dave’s high school reunion in Missouri. They met new people, saw Dave’s old friends, visited places from Dave’s past, and uncovered some family history, all of which is retold in Mr. Jamison’s memoir.
The backdrop for all of this, almost portrayed as a human character in the book, is the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign and the growing popularity of famous entrepreneur and then-presidential candidate Donald Trump. Division arose between Mr. Jamison and his family—including his father—on the issue of support for Mr. Trump and his platform. At that time, Mr. Jamison felt that dividing line deepening, and the empathy disappearing, among many Americans across the country.
“In 2016, we were seeing this change happen in our country where suddenly people weren’t being so empathetic to each other,” Mr. Jamison said. “And I started thinking: ‘Well, if I’m asking people to get outside of their comfort zones and share their stories with other people who are helping them write their stories through The Facing Project, why can’t I do some of these same things with my own family members with whom at that time, and still on some issues, I have fundamental disagreements—especially around their support for Trump as president?’ So, I did it.”
Positively Impacted by His Ball State Experience
J.R. Jamison in recording booth providing audio for his book
In his memoir, Mr. Jamison also shares some of his perspective as a young adult gay man in Indiana during that time. This perspective is as much a part of his “Hillbilly Queer” story as the ideas of bridging the divide among, and showing empathy to, people who strongly disagree on politics, policy, and other big questions—especially when those people are family or close friends.
“I was not out yet when I started college. I was still trying to come to terms with my own identity,” he said. “A lot of people weren’t that open about same-sex relationships back then.”
Mr. Jamison said his time at Ball State contributed to him evolving into the person he is today, noting that he didn’t become his true self until he came to the University. But like many other new students, he struggled with the transition from high school to college—and with a bit of imposter syndrome. It was the people at Ball State who positively impacted Mr. Jamison, he said.
“I came to Ball State from a small high school in a rural area, where most of the graduates didn’t go to college,” he explained. “I went from having 41 people in my high school’s graduating class to walking into a college class that had about 200 people in a lecture hall. It was a culture shift. And it was me just trying to figure out who am I. Do I belong here?
“I almost flunked out of college during my freshman year,” Mr. Jamison added. “But I made it through because there were some faculty at Ball State who believed in me. They saw my potential and kept pushing me, in an encouraging way. And it was people like my college friends Steve and Brooke—other students who basically told me, ‘You belong here’ and ‘You’re OK; you can be yourself here.’ They helped me find the confidence to keep going and to be myself.”
As he went through his undergraduate years, he performed better academically and flourished personally.
“Having that support network really got me to that place,” he said. “Then, I started getting more involved on campus. And I got involved in student voluntary services. My network of support widened. Looking back, I can honestly say that Ball State and Muncie have meant so much to me.”
Mr. Jamison earned his undergraduate degree in geography, with a minor in creative writing, in 2001 at Ball State. He earned his master’s degree in student affairs administration from Ball State in 2003.
