Jade Treadwell is an Associate Professor and Director of Dance in the Department of Theatre and Dance at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU). A performer, choreographer, and scholar, she brings over a decade of experience in dance performance and education, having worked with StaibDance, ClancyWorks, Duncan Dance South, and as a freelance artist across Atlanta, Washington, D.C., Tennessee, and Florida. She holds BFA and MFA degrees in Dance Performance and Choreography from Florida State University, where she was a member of the Dance Repertory Theatre under the direction of Lynda Davis and worked with renowned artists including Dan Wagoner, Gerri Houlihan, Susan Marshall, and Jawole Willa Jo Zollar.

As a choreographer, Treadwell draws inspiration from African American cultural history, community, spirituality, and the central role of women in these traditions. Her work Visceral Undercurrent has been featured in museum exhibitions and national dance conferences. At MTSU, she curates mainstage dance concerts for the MTSU Dance Theatre company, mentors student choreographers for MTSU Dance Student Gala production and creative projects through the MTSU Honors College and awarded Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities grants.

She is a member of the International Association of Blacks in Dance, she serves on the Research Committee for the National Dance Education Organization, and as a board member of the Tennessee Association of Dance. Treadwell holds a Master of Science in Exercise Science and is pursuing a Ph.D. in Health and Human Performance. Her research centers on injury prevention protocols and movement screening methods to support dancer wellness and performance longevity.

Through her interdisciplinary teaching, choreographic work, and national service, Treadwell advances an inclusive and wellness-focused model of dance education that prepares students for professional dance and dance related careers in the performing arts, education, and health. Her leadership continues to elevate MTSU Dance as a vital site of training, research, and creative expression in the region.

She and Pastor Treadwell have been married since 2010, and she has journeyed in ministry since he became ordained in 2011.  They have three children: Carter, Miles, and Ella.