He is the author of the book Dancers Talking Dance: Critical Evaluation in the Choreography Class.
Lavender served as head of dance and director of the interdisciplinary undergraduate program at the University of New Mexico before joining the faculty at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in the College of Visual and Performing Arts.
[2][3] From 2002 until 2006 Lavender served as head of the Dance Department at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
[4][5][6][1] He also teaches Master of Arts courses in the Liberal Studies Program and the Llyod International Honors College at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
[7] In 1996 he wrote the book Dancers Talking Dance: Critical Evaluation in the Choreography Class.