• Our faculty are prominent artists and scholars who bring a wide array of high-level professional experience to the classroom. They are dedicated to educating the next generation of innovative theatre and dance practitioners. The UH School of Theatre & Dance prides itself on training students for the profession alongside award-winning faculty who are all working professionals in their respective fields. In addition, our program is supported by a highly qualified and talented group of specialized adjunct instructors and graduate assistants from across the United States.

• HAVE QUESTIONS FOR SoTD?

  EMAIL dmhidal2@central.uh.edu

  or call 713-743-3003 

Meet the Faculty

• LEADERSHIP 

  Dr. Robert Shimko | Director of the School of Theatre & Dance 

  Karen Stokes | Director of Dance Division 

  Adam Noble | Head of MFA Acting 

  Kevin Rigdon | Head of MFA Design & Technology 

  Rachel Bush | Head of Stage Management

   

  PRODUCTION & DESIGN AREA 

  Kevin Rigdon | (Head of Graduate Design) Professor, Scenic and Lighting Design 

  Charles Gary Cooper | Associate Professor of Theatre Education, Head of Theatre Recruitment 

  Rachel Bush | Associate Professor, Stage Management 

  Barbara Neiderer | Associate Professor, Costume Design and Technology 

  Claremarie Verheyen | Associate Professor, Makeup and Costume History 

  Paige Willson | Professor, Costume Design and Technology 

  Tatiana Vintu | (Head of BFA Production) Associate Professor, Design

  Kalliope Vlahos | Assistant Professor, Technical Direction

   

  PLAYWRITING & DRAMTURGY 

  Dr. Robert Shimko | Director of School of Theatre & Dance, Head of B.F.A. Playwriting/Dramaturgy 

  Lisa D'Amour | Distinguished Professor of Playwriting, Lyndall Finley Wortham Chair in the Performing Arts 

  Dr. Elizabeth Coen | (Head of MA Theatre Studies) Assistant Professor, Theatre Studies

   

  DANCE DIVISION 

  Karen Stokes | Director of Dance Division, Professor 

  John Beasant III | Assistant Professor, Dance 

  Teresa Lynn Chapman | Associate Professor, Dance 

  Gabriela Estrada | Assistant Professor, Dance

  Toni Valle | Professor of Practice, Dance 

• PERFORMANCE AREA 

  Jessica Ferrarone | (Head of Summer MA for Theatre Educators), Instructional Assistant 

  Professor, Acting 

  Jim Johnson | (Head of BFA Acting) Professor, Voice & Accents 

  Stuart Ostrow | Distinguished Professor of Musical Theatre 

  Adam Noble | (Head of MFA Acting) Associate Professor, Acting & Movement, UH Armory Supervisor 

  Molly Wetzel | Lecturer, Voice & Speech 

  Jack Young | Professor, Acting 

  Allison Pistorius | Assistant Professor, Acting

   

  ADJUNCT FACULTY 

  Jacqueline Anne Bobet | Adjunct Faculty, Dance 

  Firat Kazbek Ozsoy | Adjunct Faculty, Dance 

  Leslie Scates | Adjunct Faculty, Dance 

  Elizabeth Troxler | Adjunct Faculty, Dance 

  Jennifer Sommers | Adjunct Faculty Dance 

  John L. Egging | Adjunct Faculty, Theatre 

  Courtney Young | Adjunct Faculty, Theatre 

  Shelley Calene-Black | Adjunct Faculty, Theatre 

  Sophia Watt | Adjunct Faculty, Theatre 

  Alan Brincks | Adjunct Faculty, Theatre 

  Heidi Hinkel | Adjunct Faculty, Theatre 

  Skye Bronfenbrenner |  Adjunct Faculty, Theatre 

  Samantha Gardeck | Adjunct Faculty, Theatre 

   

  FACULTY EMERTIUS 

  Joanna Friesen | Professor Emeritus, Dance 

Administration

• ADMINISTRATION 

  Dr. Robert Shimko
  Director
  713-743-1243
  713-743-2648 (fax)
  rbshimko@central.uh.edu
  Office: 133K Wortham

• STAFF

  Dinah Hidalgo
  Administrative Coordinator
  Room WT 133
  dmhidal2@uh.edu
  713-743-3003

  Julian Waneck
  Ticketing & Arts Season Manager, KGMCA
  Office: WT 133
  ajwaneck@central.uh.edu
  713-743-7340

  Kayly Scott
  Director of Marketing & Communications, KGMCA
  Office: M 120M
  kmscott@central.uh.edu
  713-743-9458

  Greta Connolly
  Marketing Manager, KGMCA
  Office: M 120J
  gjconnol@central.uh.edu
  713-743-4941
  
  

• SoTD ADVISING

  Erika Jimenez 
  Academic Advisor  
  Building, Room FA 100 
  esalinas@central.uh.edu 
  713-743-2913