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EDUCATION
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
Professional Certificate in Arts and Culture Strategy, August 2018
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
Ph.D. in Theatre Historiography, June 2011
Thesis: “Crafting Objects, Selves, Links: The Embodied Production of Relational Exchange in Performances of Craft in the United States”
Advisors: Dr. Sonja Kuftinec and Dr. Margaret Werry
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
M.A. in Theatre History and Theory, Minor in Feminist Studies, February 2006
Advisor: Dr. Sonja Kuftinec
Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan
B.A. in Communication Arts and Sciences with an emphasis on Theatre, Minor in English, May 2002
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TEACHING
Otterbein University, Westerville, Ohio
Theatre Everywhere, Fall 2019-present
Theatre Fundamentals, Fall 2019-present
Introduction to Arts Administration, Fall 2016-present
Theatre History II, Spring 2012 and Spring 2015-present
Theatre History I, Fall 2011 and Fall 2014-present
Creating Community-Based Art for Civic Engagement, Spring 2014-Summer 2018
Ensemble Devising, Spring 2017
Countercultural Capital, Spring 2015-Spring 2016
Theatre: Performing / Reforming Society, Fall 2011-Fall 2014
Art and American Identities - First Year Seminar, Fall 2013
Marion Correctional Institution, Marion, Ohio
Acting Ensemble and Dramatic Literature, Fall 2016-2020
The Ohio State University, Marion
The Craft of Acting, Fall 2016-Fall 2018
Introduction to the Theatre, Online, Fall 2014-Spring 2019
Introduction to the Theatre, Fall 2014-15
The Ohio State University, Columbus
Introduction to the Theatre, Fall 2011
Self Images: America Onstage, 1830-Present, Winter and Spring 2009
Honors Introduction to the Theatre, Winter 2009
10-Minute Playwriting Independent Study, Winter 2009
World Theatre History: Ancient Greek to French Neoclassical, Fall 2008
Solo Performers in the United States: 1980-Present, Fall 2008
University Of Minnesota, Minneapolis
Theatrical Storytelling and Solo Performance, Spring 2006
Dramatic Literature, Fall 2005 (teaching assistant)
Introduction to the Theatre, Fall 2003-Spring 2005 (teaching assistant)
Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Introduction to Directing, Spring 2002 (teaching assistant)
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WORK AND SERVICE
Antioch University
Director of Operations, Strategic Affiliation Partnerships, March 2023-present
Ohio Prison Arts Connection
Co-Founder, 2017-present
Otterbein University
Advisor for 4 Distinction Projects and 3 Honors Theses, Spring 2016-present
Faculty Senator, Fall 2015-Spring 2016
Faculty Advisor, Otterbein Uncensored for First-Year Orientation, 2014-2016
Producer, WGSS + Storytelling Partnership, Summer-Fall 2015
Marion Correctional Institution
Director, The Hamilton Project, November 2019
Director, And In This Corner, Cassius Clay by Idris Goodwin, July 2019
Director, Shakespeare Showcase, January 2018
Director, I Am Hamlet, September 2016
Artistic Director, Theatre of Conviction, September 2015-present
Available Light Theatre
Director, staged reading of Give It All Back by Calamity West, Next Stage Initiative, Winter 2017
Americans for the Arts
Researcher, Arts Marketing and Audience Engagement in the 21st Century: Building the Capacity of Pennsylvania’s Cultural Sector, June-August 2016
Association for Theatre in Higher Education
Theatre and Social Change (TASC) Focus Group Member-at-Large, July 2014-
2015
Ten Fifty Theatre Project
Producer, Dramaturg, and Co-Director for Rachel’s House, January-May 2014
Wild Goose Creative
Founding Board Member, January 2015-Feb 2020
Curator, Program Planner, Grantwriter, September 2008-2017
Artistic Director, June 2012-September 2014
Board Vice President, July 2006-May 2012
Community Shares of Mid-Ohio
Member, Board of Trustees, January 2011-December 2013
VSA Ohio
Researcher, Art and Autism Project, March-August 2013
OSU Theatre
Undergraduate Sandbox Coordinating Director, Fall 2008-Spring 2009
Faculty Coordinator for The Writing Company, Fall 2008-Spring 2009
Park(ing) Day Columbus, Ohio
Organizer, Fall 2008
American Craft Council’s Biannual National Conference in Minneapolis
Planning Partner, Fall 2008-Spring 2009
University of Minnesota’s Xperimental Theatre
Director of Arlene Hutton’s As It Is In Heaven, Spring 2005
Artistic Director, Fall 2003-Spring 2005
Calvin Theatre Company
Member, Board of Directors, Fall 2000-Spring 2002
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PRESENTATIONS
AND PUBLICATIONS
"Strengthening Community Reentry Responses Through the Arts." Panel Convener. Building Bridges of Opportunity Community Experience, October 2021.
"Reciprocity as Reckoning: Community-Based Theatre in the Drive for Institutional Equity." Panel Presenter. Association of Theatre in Higher Education Annual Conference, August 2021.
“The Socially Engaged Artist in the Carceral Context.” Panel Presenter. Columbus Museum of Art, Columbus, November 2019
“The Value of the Arts in Prison and Re-Entry.” Workshop presenter. National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice, Ohio Chapter, Dayton, October 2019
“Arts Opportunities for Returning Citizens.” Workshop presenter. Reimagining: Effectuating Change from the Inside Out. Sinclair College, Dayton, October 2019
“Represent! The Black Body on Page, Wall, and Stage.” Panel Presenter. Speed Art Museum, Louisville KY, August 2019
“Staging Recovery as Home Work in Rachel’s House.” Chapter in Performing Dream Homes: Theater and the Spatial Politics of the Domestic Sphere, ed. by Jill Stevenson, Emily Klein, and Jen-Scott Mobley. Palgrave Macmillan, 2019
“Arts And… Plenary Session.” Panel Presenter. Ohio Arts Council Arts Impact Ohio Conference, Columbus, December 2018
“Approaches to Learning, Understanding, and Remixing Shakespeare in the Prison Classroom.” Workshop presenter. National Conference on Higher Education in Prison, Indianapolis, November 2018
Convener and lead facilitator. Statewide Gathering, Ohio Prison Arts Connection, Wexner Center for the Arts, Columbus, October 2018
B.A. Master Class in Devising Theatre, Otterbein University, April 2017
“The Games We Play.” Panel Presenter. Association of Theatre in Higher Education, Montreal, August 2015
“Dreaming in Rachel’s House.” Panel Presenter. Association of Theatre in Higher Education, Scottsdale, Arizona, July 2014
“Arts and Autism in Ohio Research Initiative Phase 1: Findings and Recommendations.” Co-author and researcher. VSA Ohio and the Ohio Arts Council, August 2013
“The Meaningful Mundane: Identity and Other Implications of Performing Craft Work.” Panel organizer/presenter. Society of Vineyard Scholars, Anaheim, California, April 2013
“Beyond Commerce: Connecting to Your Community.” Panel presenter. Midwest Craft Caucus, Economic and Community Development Institute, Columbus, Ohio, June 2011
“Multiple Commitments: Practicing Diffuse Ties as a Mode of Civic Engagement.” Paper presenter with Andrew Taylor. Communicative Cities: Integrating Technology and Place, The Ohio State University Columbus Campus, June 2009
“New Works By Old Friends.” Co-leader of workshop on fundamentals of playwriting and creating plays out of interviews and found materials, Calvin Theatre Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan, October 2008
“Handcraft and the Transformation of Exchange.” Paper presenter and contributing author. New Craft: Future Voices, University of Dundee, Scotland, July 2007
“Rediscipling Craft, Undisciplining Performance.” Paper presenter. Ohio State University Conference on Performance and Interdisciplinarity, Columbus, Ohio, March 2007
“Handcraft, Gifting, and Revising Economy.” Paper presenter. Women, Theatre, and Performance Pre-Conference, Association of Theatre in Higher Education, Chicago, Illinois, August 2006
“Rehearsal as Ritual and Disruption.” Paper presenter. University of Wisconsin-Madison Theatre Arts Conference, Madison, Wisconsin, April 2006
“Using Performance Strategies in Teaching.” Workshop co-presenter with Dr. Sonja Kuftinec. University of Minnesota Center for Teaching and Learning, Minneapolis, Fall 2005
“Stories from Camp: Understanding the Impact of What We Do.” Article co-authored with Don DeGraaf. Camping Magazine November/December 2002
“The Long-Term Impact of Camp on Camp Counselors.” American Camping Association Annual Conference, Washington, D.C., April 2002
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FELLOWSHIPS,
AWARDS, AND HONORS
Outstanding Part-Time Faculty Award, Otterbein University, 2017
Volunteer of the Year, Marion Correctional Institution, 2017
Lead Curator, Best Art Gallery in Columbus, Columbus Underground, 2016
Tri-Iota Honorary Member, Otterbein University, 2016
Baccalaureate Speaker, Otterbein University, 2016
Featured Faculty, Courtright Memorial Library, September 2015
Emerging Arts Leader Nominee, Greater Columbus Arts Council Community Arts Partnership Awards, 2014
Americans for the Arts Arts Leadership Digital Classroom, Spring 2014
Next Generation of Leaders Fellow, Columbus, 2014
Bryant Directing Scholarship for work on As It Is In Heaven, University of Minnesota, May 2005
Whiting Scholarship, University of Minnesota, May 2004
University Fellowship, University of Minnesota, 2002-2003
Presidential Scholarship, Calvin College, 1998-2002
Outstanding Actress in a Supporting Role, Calvin Theatre Company, 2002
Outstanding Director for work on Remedial Lessons, Calvin Theatre Company, 2002
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PROFESSIONAL
AFFILIATIONS
Alliance of Higher Education in Prison
Association for Theatre in Higher Education
Columbus Arts Marketing Association
Justice Arts Coalition