Faculty

The Department of Theatre and Performance Studies at Kennesaw State University has thirteen full-time teaching faculty or administrative faculty who serve the department in various capacities supported by additional part-time instructors. Along with their work in the university classroom, our theatre and performance studies faculty are active as creative artists and scholars; they bring to our campus impressive credentials in directing, performance, and design as well as publication and scholarship. They are active in international, national, regional, and state organizations in their areas of expertise.

Full-Time Faculty

L. Dean Adams
dadams@kennesaw.edu
Associate Professor, Artistic Director, and Coordinator of Recruitment & Advisement
M.F.A. Theatre (Directing), Florida State University
M.A. Communication Arts and Theatre, University of Maryland
B.A. Drama/English, Tufts University

Areas of Emphasis: Acting, Directing, Media (Film and Television), Musical Theatre, Producing/Theatre Business and Management

Jane Barnette
jbarne48@kennesaw.edu

Assistant Professor, Resident Dramaturg, Archivist, and Alpha Psi Omega Advisor

Ph.D. Theatre History, Criticism and Literature, The University of Texas at Austin

M.A. Theatre History, Criticism and Literature, The University of Texas at Austin

B.S. Speech/Women's Studies, Northwestern University

Areas of Emphasis: Theatre and Performance History, Dramaturgy, Women's Studies

Lendley C. Black
lblack@kennesaw.edu
Professor and Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs
Ph.D. Theatre (Russian Theatre and Drama), University of Kansas
M.A. Theatre (Acting and Directing), University of Connecticut
B.A. English, University of Tennessee at Martin

Areas of Emphasis: Russian Theatre History, Michael Chekhov's Acting Techniques, Survey of Theatre History and Dramatic Literature, Acting, Directing, Aesthetics

Jamie Bullins
jbullins@kennesaw.edu
Associate Professor, Production Manager, and Faculty Advisor Kennesaw Improv Student Society
M.F.A. Theatrical Design, University of North Carolina-Greensboro
B.A. Studio Art, Campbell University

Areas of Emphasis: Scenography; Production/Theatre Management KSU

Ming Chen
mchen@kennesaw.edu
Professor
M.F.A. Stage Design/Theory, Shanghai Theatre Academy
M.A. Theatrical Production, University of Pittsburgh
B.F.A. Stage Design, Shanghai Theatre Academy

Areas of Emphasis: Scenic Design; Costume Design

Jim Davis
jdavi231@kennesaw.edu
Assistant Professor
Ph.D. Theatre, Bowling Green State University

M.A. Theatre, University of Northern Iowa

B.A. Drama/Speech, Clarke College
Areas of Emphasis: American Dramatic Literature, Directing, Theatre History, Popular Culture Performance, Puppet Theatre

John S. Gentile
jgentile@kennesaw.edu
Professor and Chair

Ph.D. Performance Studies, Northwestern University
M.A. Mythological Studies, Pacifica Graduate Institute

M.A. Performance Studies, Northwestern University
B.A. Dramatic Arts and English, State University of New York Geneseo

Areas of Emphasis: Solo Performance; Performance History; Chautauqua Movement; Storytelling; Myth; Adapting Literary and Folkloric Texts for the Stage

Hannah B. Harvey

hharvey3@kennesaw.edu

Assistant Professor

Ph.D. Performance Studies/Communication Studies, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

M.A. Performance Studies/Communication Studies, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

B.A. Communication, Writing, and Performance, Furman University

Areas of Emphasis: Performance Ethnography; Oral Traditions and Storytelling; Cultural Performance; The Body in Performance; Performance of Literature; The KSU Tellers: http://ksutellers.kennesaw.edu

Harrison Long
hlong3@kennesaw.edu
Assistant Professor, Coordinator of the Acting Concentration
M.F.A. Theatre (Acting), Southern Methodist University

B.F.A Theatre (Acting), Florida State University

Areas of Emphasis: Acting; Voice and Speech; Shakespearean Text and Acting Technique; Scene Study; Improvisation; Characterization; Movement

Margaret Baldwin Pendergrass
mbaldw11@kennesaw.edu
Lecturer and Interim Coordinator of General Education for Theatre and Performance Studies

M.F.A. Theatre Arts (Playwriting), University of Iowa
B.A. English/Modern Studies, University of Virginia

Areas of Emphasis: Playwriting; Ensemble Performance; Solo Performance; Adaptation

Ivan Pulinkala
ipulinka@kennesaw.edu
Assistant Professor and Director of the Dance Program
M.F.A. Dance, Mills College
B. Com. Commerce, Delhi University

Areas of Emphasis: Choreography, Modern, Jazz, Musical Theatre, Dance History, Kinesiology

Karen Robinson
krobins1@kennesaw.edu
Associate Professor, Coordinator of General Education for Theatre and Performance Studies, and Coordinator of Internships

M.F.A. Directing, New York University
B.A. Theatre/English, University of Colorado

Areas of Emphasis: Directing; Performance; Dramaturgy (new plays and classical texts); Theatre Appreciation

Russell Young
jyoung53@kennesaw.edu
Associate Professor
D.M.A. Accompanying and Chamber Music, University of Miami
M.M. Piano Performance, University of Louisiana-Monroe
Areas of Emphasis: Opera, Musical Theatre

Part-Time Faculty

Natashya Armer-Giardina

narmer@kennesaw.edu

Instructor

M.F.A. Acting, Northern Illinois University

B.F.A Acting, Virginia Commonwealth University

Freddie Ashley
fashley@kennesaw.edu
Instructor
M.F.A. Theatre Performance, University of Southern Mississippi

B.F.A Theatre, Shorter College

Cynthia Barrett

Instructor

M.F.A. Theatre (Acting), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

B.A. Theatre, Indiana State University