People

Faculty and Staff of the School of Drama

School of Drama Faculty & Staff

Meet Our Team

Photo of Robert Ramirez, a Mexican man with a bald head and dark, short beard, smiling, wearing a blazer and black shirt

Robert Ramirez

Head of School

Robert Ramirez became head of the School of Drama on August 1, 2022. He joins CMU from the Department of Theatre and Dance at the University of Texas at Austin (UT), where he served as professor and chair.

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    Leadership

    Photo of Kyle Haden, a black man with a bald head and beard, wearing a long sleeved, collared, light blue shirt.

    Kyle Haden

    Senior Associate Head
    Associate Professor of Acting
    Headshot of Amy Nichols, a white woman with long curly dark brown hair, wearing a black shirt.

    Amy Nichols

    ASSOCIATE HEAD, DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
    Headshot of David Holcomb

    David Holcomb

    Associate Head, Director of Production
    Photo of Dick Block, a white man with white hair and red framed glasses, wearing an orange and black checkered shirt.

    Dick Block

    Associate Head of School
    Teaching Professor of Design

    Faculty

    Photo of Wendy Arons

    Wendy Arons

    Professor of Dramatic Literature
    Area Chair, Dramaturgy
    Director of the Center for the Arts in Society
    Photo of Kent Barrett

    Kent Barrett

    Associate Professor of Scenic Design
    Photo of Claudia Benack, a white woman with medium length blonde hair and glasses, wearing a white collared blouse.

    Claudia Benack

    Teaching Professor of Voice
    Photo of Stewart Blackwood, a white man with dark brown hair, wearing a blue checkered button-down shirt and smiling.

    Stewart Blackwood

    Assistant Professor of Composition and Sound Design
    Photo of Dick Block, a white man with white hair and red framed glasses, wearing an orange and black checkered shirt.

    Dick Block

    Associate Head of School
    Teaching Professor of Design
    Photo of David Boevers, a white man with white short hair, wearing a light blue, short-sleeved, button up shirt.

    David Boevers

    Associate Professor of Production Technology and Management /
    Technical Director
    Photo of C. Todd Brown - a white man with blonde hair, wearing a black shirt.

    C. Todd Brown

    Associate Teaching Professor of Lighting and Production Technology
    Photo of Tomé Cousin, a Black man with a bald head and round framed glasses, wearing a black turtleneck.

    Tomé Cousin

    Professor of Dance
    Photo of Brett Crawford, a white woman with short blond hair, wearing a pink blouse and black blazer.

    Brett Ashley Crawford

    Associate Teaching Professor, Arts Management
    Photo of Mark Domencic, a white man with gray hair.

    Mark Domencic

    Adjunct Faculty, Music Theater
    Photo of Gianni Downs, a white man with brown curly hair and short beard.

    Gianni Downs

    Adjunct Faculty, Scenic Design
    Photo of Andrew Dunn, a white man with brown hair and glasses, wearing a dark t-shirt and smiling.

    Andrew Dunn

    Adjunct Faculty, Design and Art

    Kaja Dunn

    ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, ANTI-RACIST AND CULTURALLY COMPETENT PRACTICE
    Director of Strategic Equitable Practices
    Photo of Rick Edinger, an Asian man wearing dark rimmed glasses and a dark gray collared shirt.

    Rick Edinger

    Area Chair of Acting & Music Theater
    Associate Professor of Music Theater
    Co-Artistic Director, Center for New Work
    Black and white photo of Mindy Eshelman, a white woman with long, curly hair

    Mindy Eshelman

    Associate Professor of Costume Design
    Headshot of Lucas Fedele

    Lucas Fedele

    Assistant Teaching Professor of Dance
    Jackie Fox headshot

    Jackie Fox

    Special Visiting Faculty, Lighting Design
    Amanda Gladu photo

    Amanda Gladu

    Special Visiting Faculty, Costume Design
    Photo of Kristi Good, a white woman with short, asymmetrical brown hair, wearing a black top and gray blazer.

    Kristi Good, PhD

    Assistant Professor of Dramaturgy
    Photo of Kyle Haden, a black man with a bald head and beard, wearing a long sleeved, collared, light blue shirt.

    Kyle Haden

    Senior Associate Head
    Associate Professor of Acting
    Photo of Rob Handel, a white man with brown hair and glasses, wearing a black shirt.

    Rob Handel

    Professor of Dramatic Writing
    Area Chair, Dramatic Writing
    Photo of Hugh Hanson, a white man with a bald head, glasses, and a short gray beard, wearing a light teal button down, collared shirt.

    Hugh Hanson

    Associate Professor of Costume Production
    Photo of Kevin Hines, a white man with glasses wearing a tan bucket hat.

    Kevin Hines

    Associate Teaching Professor of Production Technology & Management
    Headshot of David Holcomb

    David Holcomb

    Associate Head, Director of Production
    Photo of Gwen Kelso, a white woman with long dark hair and large black-rimmed glasses.

    Gwendolyn Kelso

    Adjunct Faculty, Acting for Non-Majors
    Photo of Randy Kovitz, a white man with dark brown/grey hair and glasses, wearing a black collared shirt.

    Randy Kovitz

    Special Faculty, Acting
    Photo of Gary Logan, a white man with gray hair and glasses, wearing a black shirt.

    Gary Logan

    Professor of Speech and Dialects
    Professional photo of Adil Mansoor

    Adil Mansoor

    Special Visiting Faculty, Directing
    Black and white photo of Melissa Martin, a white woman wearing a cap and smiling.

    Melissa Martin

    Adjunct Faculty, Dramatic Writing & The John Wells Directing Program
    Black and white photo of Tony McKay, a white man wearing a suit and tie.

    Tony McKay

    Associate Professor of Acting
    Photo of Michael McKelvey, a white man with short dark gray hair wearing a black button down shirt.

    Michael E. McKelvey

    Assistant Professor of Music Theater & Voice
    Brendan McMahon headshot

    Brendan McMahon

    Associate Teaching Professor of Movement
    Catherine Moore, a white woman with dirty blonde hair and bangs, wearing glasses and a gray suit, sits in theater seating.

    Catherine Moore

    Teaching Professor Drama, Movement
    Photo of Amanda Olmstead, a white woman with long blonde hair, wearing a blue shirt and smiling.

    Amanda Olmstead

    Adjunct Faculty, Dramaturgy
    Danielle Paccione headshot

    Danielle Paccione

    Adjunct Professor, Stage & Production Management
    Photo of Joe Pino, a white man with short gray hair and beard, wearing glasses and a blue button down shirt.

    Joe Pino

    Professor of Sound Design
    Photo of Robert Ramirez, a Mexican man with a bald head and dark, short beard, smiling, wearing a blazer and black shirt

    Robert Ramirez

    Head of School
    Photo of Giovanna Reyes-Mir, Hispanic woman with long, dark brown hair.

    Giovanna Reyes-Mir

    Adjunct Faculty, Music Theater
    Photo of Nica Ross, a person with short brown hair and glasses, wearing a black collared, button down shirt

    Nica Ross

    Associate Professor of Video & Media Design
    Photo of Brian Russman, a white man with medium length grey hair and glasses, wearing a navy blue patterned suit jacket and red tie.

    Brian Russman

    Teaching Professor of Costume Production
    Photo of Emily Sapa, a white woman with red/brown hair and glasses, wearing a blue patterned dress and smiling.

    Emily Sapa

    Adjunct Faculty, Alexander Technique
    Black and white photo of Tina Shackleford, a white woman with curly blonde hair.

    Tina Shackleford

    Teaching Professor of Stage Management
    Black and white photo of Lawrence Shea, a white man with brown hair, wearing a dark t-shirt.

    Lawrence Shea

    Associate Professor of Video & Media Design
    Area Chair, Design
    Photo of Andrew Smith, a white man with dark blonde hair, wearing a button up collared shirt with a navy pullover.

    Andrew William Smith

    Associate Professor of Acting
    Associate Area Chair of Acting/Music Theater

    Photo of Ausar Stewart, a black man wearing a denim collared shirt with a white tee shirt underneath.

    Ausar Stewart

    Assistant Professor of Voice and Acting
    Photo of Robert Thomson, a white man with grey/white curly hair wearing a black collared shirt with red and yellow accents.

    Robert Thomson

    Associate Professor of Lighting Design
    Kelly Trumbull headshot

    Kelly Trumbull

    Adjunct Professor, Acting
    Photo of Susan Tsu, an Asian woman with medium length black hair, wearing a black blouse.

    Susan Tsu

    Bessie F Anathan Professor of Design & University Professor
    Headshot of Rachel Tucker

    Rachel Tecora Tucker

    Assistant Teaching Professor of Dance
    Jonathan Vandenberg headshot

    Jonathan Vandenberg

    Assistant Professor of Directing
    Photo of Lisa Velten Smith, a white woman with medium length blonde hair, wearing a sleeveless black blouse.

    Lisa Velten Smith

    Associate Professor of Voice
    Associate Area Chair of Acting/Music Theater

    Photo of Bria Walker-Rhoze, a black woman with medium length black hair, wearing a fuchsia blouse and smiling.

    Bria Walker-Rhoze

    Akram and Watfa Midani Associate Professor of Acting
    Photo of Chelsea M. Warren, a white woman with curly brown hair.

    Chelsea M. Warren

    Associate Professor of Scenic Design
    Photo of Miso Wei, an Asian woman with medium length dark hair, wearing a cream colored sweater, smiling.

    Miso Wei

    Assistant Teaching Professor of Stage & Production Management
    Photo of Kim Weild, a white woman with blonde hair, wearing a black blouse.

    Kim Weild

    Paul Mellon Distinguished Professor of Drama
    Area Chair & Professor of Directing
    John Wells Directing Program
    Photo of Yong Suk Yoo, an Asian man with short dark har and glasses, wearing a blue short-sleeved, collared shirt, crossing his arms at his chest and smiling.

    Yong Suk Yoo

    Associate Professor of Directing
    Photo of TJ Young, a Black man with short black hair wearing a coral colored, short-sleeved collared shirt with a floral pattern, unbuttoned over a gray t-shirt.

    TJ Young

    Associate Professor of Dramaturgy
    Photo of Beth Zamborsky, a white woman with long red/brown hair, wearing a brown sweater and smiling.

    Beth Zamborsky

    Associate Teaching Professor of Scenic Art & Drawing

    Staff

    Photo of Brannon Bowers

    Brannon Bowers

    Co-Artistic Director, Center for New Work
    Photo of Ben Brosche, a white man with brown hair and glasses.

    Ben Brosche

    Staff Accompanist
    Photo fo Catie Brown, a white woman with short dark brown hair, wearing a black shirt.

    Catie Brown

    Staff Accompanist
    Photo of Zachary Brown, a white man with glasses, wearing a hat and t-shirt, with sound equipment, sitting atop rigging equipment and smiling.

    Zachary Brown

    Audio Manager
    Jim Burns photo

    Jim Burns

    Staff Accompanist
    Black and white image of Ben Carter, a white man with brown hair, smiling.

    Ben Carter

    Scene Shop Supervisor & Instructor
    Pre-College Fabrication Technology

    Black and white photo of Joyce Dellovade, a white woman with blonde hair.

    Joyce Dellovade

    Senior Administrative Coordinator
    Assistant to the Head
    Photo of Thomas Feather, a white man with red/brown hair and beard, smiling and crossing his arms, wearing a short sleeved black buttoned shirt.

    Thomas Feather

    Lighting Manager
    Photo of Valerie Haley, a white woman with brown hair and glasses, smiling.

    Valerie Haley

    Senior Administrative Coordinator
    Photo of Anna Hanson

    Anna Hanson

    Associate Producer, Center for New Work
    Headshot of David Holcomb

    David Holcomb

    Associate Head, Director of Production
    Photo of Todd Kulik, a white man with dark brown hair, glasses, and a goatee, wearing a green patterned button-up shirt and light blue tie.

    Todd R. Kulik

    Props Manager
    Black and white photo of Tiia Lager, a white woman with long hair and glasses.

    Tiia Torchia Lager

    Costume Studio Manager
    Photo of Shannon Lown, a white woman with long blonde hair, wearing a gray shirt and bright red jacket.

    Shannon Lown

    Academic Program Manager & Graduate Advisor
    Photo of Melissa Lubina, a white woman with long dark hair wearing all black, standing with her hands on her hips and smiling.

    Melissa Lubina

    Facilities Coordinator
    Black and white photo of Jennifer Marks, a white woman with medium length hair.

    Jennifer Marks

    Wardrobe Supervisor

    Collin McCormack

    Media Manager
    Photo of Dr. Valeria McCrary, a black woman with medium length black hair.

    Valeria McCrary

    Senior Academic Advisor
    Photo of Shannon Musgrave, a white woman with medium length light brown hair, wearing a black blouse.

    Shannon Musgrave

    Director of Communications & Special Projects
    Photo of Alaire Naedele

    Alaire Naedele

    Director of Recruitment & Enrollment
    Headshot of Amy Nichols, a white woman with long curly dark brown hair, wearing a black shirt.

    Amy Nichols

    ASSOCIATE HEAD, DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
    Photo of Sara Novelly, a white woman with medium length red/brown hair and red framed glasses, wearing a gray sweater.

    Sara Novelly

    Business Manager
    Photo of Ross Nugent

    Ross Nugent

    Facilities and Operations Manager (Melwood)
    Photo of David Randolph, a white man with a beard and glasses, wearing a ball cap, blue button down shirt, and tan jacket, holding a cup of coffee.

    David J. Randolph

    Senior Facilities Manager
    Photo of Sayantee Sahoo, an Indian woman with short dark hair, with a light streak, wearing large hoop earrings and a collared shirt.

    Sayantee Sahoo

    Production Manager

    Natalie Simon

    Senior Administrative & Finance Coordinator
    Black and white photo of Marlene Speranza, a woman with curly hair and glasses, wearing a black shirt with white stripes and a necklace.

    Marlene Speranza

    Tailor/Costumer
    Photo of Louis Stein, a white man with a bald head and glasses, wearing a white collared shirt and black vest.

    Louis Stein

    Network Administrator
    In-House Photographer
    A black and white photo of Maria Stoy seated in theater seats in the Philip Chosky Theater at CMU.

    Maria Stoy

    Box Office Manager
    Associate Director, PreCollege Program
    Photo of Aimee Thomas wearing a headset and operating a camera.

    Aimee Thomas

    Audio Visual Supervisor
    Dean Thordarson headshot

    Dean Thordarson

    Lighting Technician
    Photo of Kristin Ward, a white woman with brown hair and glasses, wearing a blue shirt and black blazer, and holding a stuffed panda.

    Kristin Ward

    Senior Arts Technician, Prop Shop
    Photo of Sean West, a white man with gray hair and beard, wearing glasses and a white checkered shirt.

    Sean West

    Theater Supervisor/Instructor
    Becca Wood headshot

    Becca Wood

    Costume Shop Floor Supervisor

    EMERITI

    Photo of Barbara Anderson, a white woman with short light hair wearing glasses, earrings and a blue patterned blouse.

    Barbara Anderson

    Professor Emeritus
    Photo of Natalie Baker Shirer, a woman with short dark hair wearing a taupe colored blouse.

    Natalie Baker-Shirer

    Associate Professor Emeritus
    A black and white headshot of James Caton.

    James Caton

    Associate Teaching Professor of Dance, Emeritus
    Black and white photo of Judy Conte, a white woman with her hair pulled back, wearing a black top.

    Judith Conte

    Teaching Professor of Dance, Emeritus
    Black and white photo of Peter Cooke, a white man with light grey hair wearing a suit and tie.

    Peter Cooke

    University Professor Emeritus
    Photo of Janet Feindel, a white woman with light brown hair wearing a purple blouse and maroon scarf.

    Janet Madelle Feindel

    Professor Emeritus
    Black and white photo of Jed Harris, a man with white hair and a beard, wearing a collared shirt

    Jed Allen Harris

    Associate Teaching Professor Emeritus
    Photo of Gary Kline, a white man with white hair and glasses, wearing a tan suit and holding his hand under his chin.

    Gary Kline

    Teaching Professor Emeritus
    Photo of Gregory Lehane, a white man with white hair.

    Gregory Lehane

    Professor Emeritus
    Photo of Cindy Limauro, a white woman with strawberry blonde hair and classes wearing a white turtleneck with black horizontal stripes.

    Cindy Limauro

    University Professor Emeritus of Lighting Design
    Photo of Barbara MacKenzie-Wood, a white woman with short white hair, wearing a turtleneck sweater.

    Barbara MacKenzie-Wood

    University Professor Emeritus
    Photo of Dan Martin, a tall white man with white hair and beard, wearing glasses and a dark suit and purple tie.

    Dan Martin

    Professor Emeritus
    Photo of Anne Mundell, a woman with brown hair wearing a dark maroon jacket, crossing her arms, standing in the wings of a theater.

    Anne Mundell

    Professor Emeritus
    Photo of Ingrid Sonnichsen, a woman with brown hair, wearing a black blouse and holding a pair of glasses in her hand.

    Ingrid Sonnichsen

    Associate Professor Emeritus
    Photo of Don Wadsworth, a white man with red hair and beard, wearing a white collared shirt and black jacket.

    Don Wadsworth

    Professor Emeritus
    A large group of School of Drama alumni pose on a balcony in NYC, smiling at the camera, which shoot them from above, the city scape in the background.

    Alumni Stories

    More Than a Network

    Our alumni truly are a community. They celebrate and support each other’s work in the field, and are the biggest champions for current students and recent graduates newly entering the profession. With large and active alumni communities on both coasts, and in regional cities across the country, Tartan pride is everywhere.

    Featured Alumni Stories

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