Faculty & Staff Updates
for Fall '24
Hi, Theatre & Dance Folks!
The new year is almost upon us! We can't wait to see you all again!
We've got some important announcements and updates! Much of this information has been previously announced; if you missed it, you can get details at the T&D Student Resource Page.
Congratulations to everyone on their accomplishments and new adventures!
Welcome
- Dr. Leslie Hill, Department Chair & Professor of Theatre — profile
- Noel Price-Bracey, Assistant Professor of Dance: Jazz — profile
- Clara Cavins, Cutter/Draper — profile
- Katherine Kiefer Stark, Adjunct Professor of Dance: Modern — bio on the Dance Faculty page
- Casey McGinty, Adjunct Professor: Voice & Speech for the Actor — bio on the Theatre Faculty page
Farewell
- Jess Bien, Director of Operations & Production — announcement • Jess's LinkedIn
- Jess is with us through Sept. 13.
- Eric Covell, Technical Director — announcement • Eric's LinkedIn
- Natalie Gotter, Dance Faculty — Natalie resigned her full-time faculty position after the spring semester, but was planning to return to teach her dance education course. However, over the summer, she accepted a position as Director of Training Programs for the Bates Dance Festival! Natalie's LinkedIn
- Gayanne Grossman, Dance Faculty — Gayanne retired from Muhlenberg this summer after 24 years with the Dance Program, to explore new adventures — Gayanne's LinkedIn
Promotions & New Positions
- Alessandra Fanelli has been promoted to Interim Manager of Operations, beginning Sept. 1. We'll tell you more about this soon!
- James VanValen has been promoted to a tenure-track position as Assistant Professor of Theatre. He will also continue in his role as Director of the Theatre Program
- Gabriel Jason Dean has been promoted to a tenure-track position as Assistant Professor of English Literatures & Writing and Theatre
- Dr. Elizabeth June Bergman has been promoted to a tenure-track position as Assistant Professor of Dance
- Dr. Leticia Robles-Moreno has been granted tenure and promoted to Associate Professor of Theatre
- Lisa Busfield has been promoted to Visiting Lecturer in Dance.
Welcome Back!
- Dana Iannuzzi, Adjunct Professor of Theatre: Audition Workshop, Senior Showcase Director — bio on the Theatre Faculty page
- Rachel Weitknecht, Adjunct Professor of Dance: Biology of Movement, Anatomy & Kinesiology for Dancers — bio on the Dance Faculty page
- Dr. Jim Peck, Professor of Theatre, is back from a year-long sabbatical leave.
- Karen Dearborn, Professor of Dance, returns from a year-long sabbatical leave.
- Dr. Leticia Robles-Moreno, newly minted Associate Professor of Theatre (see above), is back from a leave of absence in Spring 2024
- Dr. Beth Schachter, Professor of Theatre, will be back after a semester-long sabbatical leave in Spring 2024
