Aubrey Mann, an NYU Steinhardt Performing Arts Administration (PAA) graduate program student, has been accepted into the prestigious EdD program in Educational Theatre in Colleges and Communities at NYU Steinhardt. This practice-based doctorate is tailored for individuals aiming to ascend to leadership roles within the educational and artistic fields. The program prepares its candidates for influential positions such as principals, superintendents, arts administrators, researchers, curriculum developers, policy analysts, educational consultants, theater practitioners, and drama therapists. With her specialized focus on audience care, Aubrey Mann is poised to both contribute to and benefit from this vibrant community, using her expertise to drive meaningful change and achieve positive outcomes in her field.
Currently, her research focuses on audience care at both a production and organizational level. She investigates how artists, practitioners, and administrators can support audiences of all backgrounds and needs, especially during shows dealing with difficult subjects such as sexual violence, generational trauma, and abuse. Mann is curious to discover the limits of audience care.
Her educational journey in the PAA program significantly shaped her research interests. Although she began with a very different career vision, the program opened her eyes to new areas she hadn't previously considered. A study abroad experience in Ireland, along with classes from the previous semester, including the London Study Abroad, guided her to her thesis topic and inspired her to pursue further studies, leading to her decision to start the process towards an EdD.