John Septimus “Jack” Sears was an editorial cartoonist, newspaper writer, and long-time faculty member of the University of Utah department of art. In 1919, Sears returned to the University of Utah bringing his talents in graphic design and printmaking to his new position as an instructor. After Edwin Evans resigned as chair in 1919, Sears and two other artists headed the art department. He remained at the University of Utah until 1943 years teaching and organizing the commercial art program.
Sears studied with James T. Harwood from 1891 to 1893. He then studied at the Mark Hopkins Art Institute in San Francisco for one year. In 1896, he began study with study with William M. Chase and Douglas Volk at the Art Students League in New York.