Jackson, William J.: - William J. Jackson grew up in Rock Island, Illinois, and studied acting at Goodman Theatre School at the Art Institute of Chicago. He earned his PhD in comparative religion at Harvard University. He taught at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis for many years and is the author of several books about South Indian culture. He has also written a book about fractal geometry in cultures, Heaven's Fractal Net (2004), and a book about compassion and giving in America, The Wisdom of Generosity (2008), as well as works of fiction.