Anitra N. Lawson joined the Oxnard College family in 2017 in the Film/TV and Electronic Media Program under the Visual and Performing Arts Division. She is currently teaching Beginning Digital Editing, Introduction to Electronic Media, and Introduction to Media Writing.  

Anitra attended Florida A&M University where she was a dual-major in Theatre Performance and Broadcast Journalism earning Bachelor of Art and Bachelor of Science degrees. She moved to California where she attended CalArts and obtained her an M.F.A. in Film Directing. She received a scholarship from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and an internship with the Television Academy Foundation as a directing intern on the Emmy Award-winning show The West Wing. She was also a recipient of the Norman Lear: Women in Film scholarship and a faculty fellow for the 2017 Academy Fellows Program. 

Anitra has written, directed and produced several short films, web shows including her short film A Perfect Chaos, which delves into the issue of the “down-low” phenomenon and its effects on the black family. The film screened at the Pan African Film Festival and aired on BET's The Best Shorts. 

Seven years down ...

In addition to teaching full time, I am the Academic Senator (2019-current) for my departments as well as a member of the Student Equity and Success Committee (2022-current). After my first year on the Professional Development Committee (2023-current), I became the Senate-appointed Faculty Tri-Chair for it, in September 2024. I'm also usually running between meetings or events that support our fabulously diverse and fascinating students. I'm especially passionate about our LGBTQIA+ and Rising Scholars populations. 

So far at OC, I've taught

• Health 101 (Health and Society)
• Health 102 (Fitness/Nutrition/Mental Wellness)
• Health 104 (Personal Health & Wellness)
• Health 105 (CPR, AED, First Aid, & Personal Safety)
• Kinesiology 142A/B (Yoga I/II)
• Kinesiology 143 (Pilates Mat)
• Kinesiology 144 (Core Stability & Stretch)
• Kinesiology 145A/B (Body Conditioning Boot Camp I/II)
• Kinesiology 146 A/B (Weight Training and Conditioning I/II)
• Kinesiology 147 A/B (Women’s Conditioning I/II)

I was hired at Oxnard College in August 2017 as the Head Softball Coach and Health and Kinesiology Professor. That was the start to my community college teaching and coaching career, though I stepped down from coaching the Condors in May 2023.

Beforehand, I taught high school for eight years and coached high school, travel, and NCAA D2 softball for nine years total. Previous to that, I was a sports reporter and Sunday columnist for the Napa Valley Register and freelance reporter for various Bay Area publications.

I married the love of my life Jett, on September 29, 2024 in St. Helena, amongst the vineyards and our favorite people. We have a home in Oxnard where we're raising our three furbabies: Kit, (All the Way) Mae, and Hoot.

When I'm not on campus, I'm traveling as much as possible (13 countries and counting!), trying new foods, enjoying my millionth sunset, catching a favorite band or comedian perform live, and being the best Auntie there is. 

Follow me on Instagram at @ProfessorLawlz. (I don't follow my students back so if you want me to see something please TAG me!)