Carnegie Mellon School of Drama begins the 2025/2026 academic year with six new faculty and two new staff members, plus two staff who joined the school earlier this year.
ACTING/MUSIC THEATER
Lucas Fedele and Rachel Tecora Tucker join the Acting/Music Theater area as Assistant Teaching Professors of Dance, following the retirement of long-time School of Drama dance faculty Judy Conte and Jim Caton.
Fedele has inspired a broad spectrum of students for twenty years, including teaching masterclasses and lectures for New York University, Point Park University, and Slippery Rock University. They have been a Visiting Instructor for Point Park University’s International Summer Dance program, faculty at the Pittsburgh CLO Academy, and were formerly an Adjunct Teacher at Pittsburgh CAPA.
Tucker’s prior teaching appointments inlcude the Manhattan School of Music, American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City, the University of North Carolina- Charlotte, Charlotte Ballet Academy, (formerly North Carolina Dance Theatre’s School of Dance), the Alvin Ailey School, and Steps On Broadway. As a professional dancer, Ms. Tucker danced with the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, in the National Tour of “The Wiz,” as a Radio City Rockette, and as an original cast member of “The Lion King” on Broadway.
Randy Kovitz, a long-time adjunct professor in Acting/Music Theater has been appointed to a full-time faculty position. Kovitz has taught numerous classes for the School of Drama, including Comedy, Chekov, Greeks, the Business of Acting, and Film Appreciation. He has directed productions and staged numerous fight scenes for the department, served as a faculty advisor on a number of student directed short films, and he created the Acting for the Camera curriculum, which he has taught for over 15 years. He also produces, directs, and edits the video content for the Acting and MT Showcase.
DESIGN
Kent Barrett joins the School of Drama as Associate Professor of Scenic Design. Barrett is a multidisciplinary designer and artist whose developed a wide-ranging body of work that spans collaborative, contemporary performance, experimental theater, and new media. Kent has served on the faculty of institutions such as MIT and Dickinson College, and has been a guest lecturer at schools such as Harvard University and MICA.
Amanda Gladu joins the Costume Design area as Special Visiting Faculty. Gladu has designed and associate designed at esteemed companies such as Lincoln Center Theatre, Joe’s Pub, Manhattan Theatre Club, The Spoleto Festival, The Wilma Theater, Arena Stage, Roundabout Theatre Company, New York Theatre Workshop, and Second Stage.
DIRECTING
Adil Mansoor, an alumnus of the John Wells Directing Program, returns as Special Visiting Faculty for the program. Mansoor is a Pittsburgh-based director and educator centering queer folks and people of color. He has developed new work with The Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, Manhattan Theatre Club, Public Theater, Playwrights’ Center in Minneapolis, Mercury Store, Pittsburgh Public Theater, and others.
The John Wells Directing Program will also add Jonathan Vandenberg to its faculty in January 2026. More info on Vandenberg’s work coming soon.
PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY & MANAGEMENT
Owen Lowery joins the School of Drama in the PTM area, teaching Embedded Electronics, which is the integration of electronic and interactive components into props, sets, and costumes. Lowery is an interactive artist with a mission to create situations that foster and reward curiosity, prioritizing Universal Design in art, hoping all people can engage meaningfully.
STAFF
The School of Drama welcomes four new members of the staff:
Brannon Bowers, who co-leads the Center for New Work Development alongside Rick Edinger, joins CMU from Northwestern University where they were the Producing Director of the American Music Theatre Project since 2016.
Collin McCormack, the Media Manager for the Video & Media Design area, brings more than two decades of experience in video and live event production, with a career that spans roles in corporate media, higher education, and freelance creative services. Most recently, he served as the Video Engineer for the Stern Grove Festival in San Francisco CA, which celebrated its 88th season.
Alaire Naedele, who joined the School of Drama in February 2025 as Director of Recruitment & Enrollment, has been with CMU since 2022 and previously served as served as Associate Director of Undergraduate Admission. With over 13 years of experience in higher education, Naedele brings deep expertise in enrollment management, student recruitment, communications, and admissions-related event planning.
Ross Nugent, who is Facilities & Operations Manager for the Melwood space, serving both the School of Drama and the School of Art, has over 20 years of experience in media education and exhibition. He has taught at Thiel College (Greenville, Pa.), Pittsburgh Filmmakers, the University of Maryland University College, and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
New Faculty & Staff
