Theatre Arts Faculty & Graduate Student Receive College Awards
May, 2005

David Johnson Awarded Certificate of Teaching Excellence
David Johnson, associate professor in Theatre Arts, has been awarded a 2004-05 Certificate of Teaching Excellence by the College of Liberal Arts & Human Sciences. Johnson, who has been with the department since 1988, teaches in the areas of dramatic literature, voice for the theatre, acting, international theatre, and script analysis. He also frequently directs and acts in productions. Most recently, he performed the role of Salter in last fall's production of A Number, played Roy Cohn in Angels in America at Hollins College this spring, and directed last year's Theatre Arts production of Hamlet. Johnson's dedication to student learning in the classroom and in production, the broad scope of theatre classes he has taught, and his outreach to provide international experiences earned him this honor.

Randy Ward Named for an Excellence in Graduate Student Advising Award
Randy Ward, professor of Theatre Arts, was recognized for Excellence in Graduate Student Advising. Ward, who heads the stage design and technology M.F.A. track, has been a guide and mentor for students in set and lighting design, properties design, and technical direction since the program's inception in 1978. He maintains contact with his graduates as they progress through their careers, even working professionally with many of them. Ward has designed numerous shows for Theatre Arts productions, including last fall's production of God Favors The Predator. That production was a continuation of his collaboration with world-renowned theatre artist Ping Chong and VT alumnus Michael Rohd.

M.F.A. Student Chris Adams Gains Special Commendation for Community Service
Chrisopher Adams, M.F.A. candidate in Theatre Arts, was selected for a special commendation for his community service by the Graduate Student Service Excellence Award committee and was honored at a ceremony in March. Chris received this recognition for his volunteer work with the Summer Musical Enterprise and the Living Wage Campaign productions over the past two years. He was praised by members of those groups for his professionalism and his dedication to their work. His graduate studies are focused on Technical Design & Direction, but he also finds himself as a stage director, set designer, and set builder in his volunteer work.