Kathleen McGeever

Kathleen McGeever is eager to return to NAU to start her new appointment as chair of the theater department.

"This is an exciting time for NAU theater," McGeever said. "It stands on a solid foundation, yet it looks beyond the horizon toward what is to come-and the possibilities are endless."

McGeever is chair of the theater program at Georgia College and State University, where she is responsible for developing a degree plan. She has also served as director of the program from 2004-05.

McGeever will relocate from Milledgeville, Ga., in July. Her career at NAU started as visiting assistant professor from 1996-98 where she facilitated Camp Bard at the Shakespeare Festival.

"Professor McGeever's passion for the art and craft of theater, along with her administrative skill, will provide strong leadership for a new generation of NAU theater," said Liz Grobsmith, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs. "Under her guidance, the department will be entering into an exciting new phase."

At Georgia College, McGeever has worked to develop a course sequence that eliminates faculty overload, established a Pillars Play Festival in conjunction with the Creative Writing program and has strengthened the Artist-in-Residence program with national and international visitors.

She holds a deep commitment to studying abroad as well as reaching into the community at large.

In 2006, McGeever collaborated with renowned playwright Tina Howe to present a course on the works of Eugene Ionesco and playwriting. The course, taught in Paris and Georgia, culminated in a staged reading of student plays.

"NAU theater is in an exciting place of promise and I bring with me the desire to be a major player in shaping the future," McGeever said. "I always cherished the two years I spent with NAU. The students were attentive, bright, creative and had great passion and drive. The Flagstaff community is rich in arts and culture and NAU is a major component of the cultural scene."