Katie Dawson
Katie Dawson is a teaching artist, actor, program consultant and trainer. She is an adjunct professor in the Dramai and Theatre for Youth and Communities program, and coordinator of the Drama For Schools outreach programs. She has a BS in Theatre from Northwestern, and an MFA in Theatre from The University of Texas, where she was named the 2005 Winifred Ward Scholar by the American Alliance for Theatre and Education for excellence as an emerging scholar and practitioner. Katie’s areas of research include community-engaged outreach programs in schools and community settings, youth theatre, museum theatre, drama-in-educationi, theatre-in-education, and teaching artist praxis. She is the former coordinator of the Science Comes Alive interactive theatre program at the California Science Center. She spent three years as a classroom teacher and directed youth theatre programs for the Actor’s Alley, The Falcon Theatre, and The Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum in Los Angeles. She also spent six years as the co-director of children’s programs for the Powerhouse Theatre in Santa Monica, California. She has co-facilitated an annual drama-residency in the northern interior of Alaska since 1999. Katie has facilitated trainings, presented workshops, and given lectures at numerous locations including: The University of Southern California, Texas State University, Young Audiences of Northeast Texas, Theatre Action Project, American Alliance of Theatre and Education, Illinois Theatre Association, Texas Theatre Educators Association, Texas Association of Museums, and the Drama across the Curriculum and Beyond Forum at NYU. She has worked as an actor in repertory theatres in Chicago, Alabama, Montana, and Los Angeles. She made seven television appearances as “Katie Dawson Science Expert” on talk shows with Donnie and Marie, Bob Saget, and Ellen Degeneres. Her play, No Problem, was published by Dramatic in 1996. She developed and co-wrote two children’s television shows, Abuela Escuela and Imagination Playground.
Bridget Lee
Bridget is pursuing her Ph.D. in Educational Psychology at The University of Texas at Austin and serves as the Program Coordinator for the Drama for Schools professional development program. She is a guest lecturer in creative dramai for theDepartment of Theatre and Dance at UT. Her academic research includes theatre for young audiences, applied theatre and non-profit management. She has been an education director for regional theatres, taught middle school theatre, and served as an arts integration specialist for AmeriCorps. Bridget continues to be involved with directing and acting regionally with a particular interest in new play development. She is currently working on a biographical solo performance piece interrogating the process of becoming a mother. She received her B.S. in Theatre and Learning Disabilities from Northwestern University in Evanston, IL and her M.F.A. in Drama and Theatre for Youth from The University of Texas at Austin.
Dr. Stephanie Cawthorn
Stephanie is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Educational Psychology at The University of Texas at Austin. She has training in research design, assessment, and instructional strategies for students with special needs. She serves as the project evaluator for the Drama for Schools program. Her background includes expertise in language and literacy development and educational psychology. Stephanie has experience with multiple research strategies, including both quantitative and qualitative methods. Her previous research methodologies include survey design, classroom observations, teacher interviews, focus group studies, and policy analysis.