Nathan Thomas, Ph.D., professor and founder of the theatre program at Alvernia University, was recognized with the Innovative Teaching Award from the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF) Region 2.
The award honors one college or university faculty member each year for excellence and creativity in theatre pedagogy across the region. Thomas received the award alongside Cassandra King, chair of KCACTF Region 2, during the ceremony, held at the American College Theatre Festival held in Columbia, Maryland.
“This award means very much to me,” said Thomas. “Our ACTF region includes many fine schools, some incredible theatre programs, and a small army of wonderful teachers. To be singled out from that group for innovative teaching is a huge honor. I think it reflects Alvernia’s ongoing support of innovation in the classroom.”
KCACTF Region 2 encompasses institutions in western New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Delaware, Maryland, Washington, D.C., West Virginia, and northern Virginia. Award recipients are selected through a competitive nomination process reviewed by the Regional Executive Committee and are recognized for innovation in teaching practice and curriculum design.
Thomas was recognized for his creative approach to teaching acting and for developing courses and a curriculum that foster creativity and student engagement. His methods emphasize experiential learning and finding fresh ways to connect students with material.
“Generally, my approach has been to find fresh ways to help students learn material,” Thomas said. “From coming up with novel ways to teach in a tent during the pandemic to getting students to do stand-up in a local comedy club to finding new insights in an old character like Hamlet.”
The award also recognizes Thomas’s role in curricular development, including the creation of the Creativity Workshop, led by Jessica Warchal-King.
“Every day our faculty work to develop their personal creativity, not only as artists, but to learn how to apply the ability to see the world with fresh and creative perspectives in everything they do,” Thomas added.
Recipients of the Innovative Teaching Award receive an invitation to present their teaching practices at the subsequent conference.
“Alvernia is fortunate to have a group of talented artists teaching in the fine and performing arts,” Thomas said. “I see my main work as supporting and furthering their work as best I can.”
