Michael Kimm (BM `04, MA `22)
Michael has been working in Ed Theatre on two fronts. He's accumulated over 100 regional theatre credits in New York, Las Vegas, Denver, and Michigan as an actor, director, musician, technical director, and lighting designer. Meanwhile, he also has fifteen years of teaching experience in Title I secondary schools in the areas of theatre, technical theatre, film, and career and technical education (CTE).
He has specialized in and earned awards and acclaim for his work in cross-curricular development, student-devised production, theatre in 'non-theatrical' spaces, and asynchronous theatrical and film production (during COVID). Six years as a fine arts, performing arts, and CTE department chair led to his receiving of the 2018 Silver Spartan Award for lifetime achievement in the Clark County School District.
Starting in the Fall of 2023, Michael will begin his pursuit of a PhD on the frontier in the development of processes, conventions, and best practices for the emerging field of Applied Theatrical Design at the University of Aberdeen in Aberdeen, Scotland.
Jonathan P. Jones, PhD
(MA ’04, PhD ’14)
Jonathan P. Jones is an advisor and faculty member in the Program in Educational Theatre and Coordinator of Doctoral Studies for the Department of Music & Performing Arts Professions at NYU Steinhardt. He was elected Chair-Elect for the American Alliance for Theatre & Education (AATE) in spring 2023 and will serve as Chair from 2025 to 2027.
Jonathan’s book Assessment in the Drama Classroom: A Culturally Responsive and Student-Centered Approach will be published by Routledge in the coming year. He serves as editor for ArtsPraxis, on the editorial board for Applied Theatre Research and Youth Theatre Journal, and is Director of Research & Scholarship for AATE.
Asha John (MA `19)
Asha is currently the senior education program manager at the New Victory Theater and a member of the oversight committee for spellbound theater company. She recently performed as the moon in the sensory-friendly production of Wink by Spellbound Theater at the New Victory Theater.
Liv Rocklin (BS `22)
After completing her BS, Liv enrolled in the Educational Theatre Colleges and Communities MA program continuing her studies. Outside of school, she has a residency performing stand up at the Broadway Comedy Club as well as several other comedy theaters around New York City.
Margarita Herrera (BS `22)
Since graduating from NYU, Margarita has pursued work in theatrical wardrobe. She has worked on shows at The Juilliard School, Manhattan School of Music, Theater for a New Audience, and The Public including their 2022 Shakespeare in the Park season.
Derek Herman (MA `23)
Derek will be making his professional directorial debut at Northwest Children’s Theatre in
Portland, Oregon. He will direct the MT Showcase for the “Cherubs” program at Northwestern. He’s published in the upcoming Youth Theatre Journal and is a substitute acting instructor for Waterwell at PPAS.
Ashley Hamilton (MA `13, PhD `17)
Ashley is the Executive Director of the robust and innovative University of Denver’s Prison Arts Initiative (DU PAI) and just completed the tenure process at The University of Denver as a faculty member in the Department of Theatre.
Ramón Esquivel (MA `06)
Ramón Esquivel is a playwright, director, dramaturg, and theatre educator based in California. He wrote his first play, Dulce, followed by: Luna, Nasty, Nocturnal, The Shahrazad Society, The Hero Twins: Blood Race, and ¡O Cascadia! He has collaborated with NYU Steinhardt's New Plays for Young Audiences, including June 2023 when he developed ZEQ, a play with music.
After graduating Ed Theatre, Ramón taught middle school humanities and drama before pursuing his MFA. As a dramaturg, Ramón has worked with playwrights Marissa Castañon-Hernandez, Mateo Hernandez, and Rick Dupree. He is currently Assistant Professor of Theatre - Playwriting at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.
Sobha Kavanakudiyil (MA `03)
Sobha Kavanakudiyil is the Director of The Graduate Program in Educational Theatre at the City College of New York. Sobha received her master's in Ed Theatre from NYU. She is an Arts Education Consultant and has worked with organizations including Harlem Stage, NJPAC, Tectonic Theater, The Apollo Theater, and The New Victory Theater. After a five-year tenure as Co-Chair of the Board of Directors for the New York City Arts in Education Roundtable, she remains on the board as Chair Emeritus and is Co-Chair of the Arts Committee on the Panel on Educational Policy for the NYC DOE.
Sobha received the Reese Evans Theatre in Our Schools Award from AATE, a citation from the City of New York presented for community outreach, has received a Distinguished Service Award from the City College of New York and was the recipient of a Fulbright Specialist Fellowship.
David Kilpatrick (MA `02)
David Kilpatrick is the Senior Director of Education Programs and Productions at The Kennedy Center, where he oversees the Education Division’s Music Education, Theater Education, and Dance Education portfolios.
In his current role, David conceived and launched the Education Artist-in-Residence initiative with Mo Willems and Jacqueline Woodson. During the pandemic, he produced “Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems”, which, became the highest-seen virtual program in the Kennedy Center’s history.
After receiving his Masters in Educational Theatre at New York University, David spent two years working in the Education Department for The New Victory Theater. David taught for NYU’s Study Abroad programs and directed for NYU’s New Plays for Young Audiences. During grad school, he worked with The Jim Henson Legacy, a non-profit organization committed to celebrating the work of the world-famous Muppet creator.
Alex Sarian (MA `07)
Following graduation, Alex served as Associate Director of Education at Playwrights Theatre of New Jersey, and Director of Education at the off-Broadway MCC Theater. In 2013, he began a seven-year tenure at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, culminating in executive leadership over the organization's education department, regranting initiatives, and international consulting. In 2020, Alex was appointed President & CEO of Arts Commons, the largest arts center in Western Canada. He leads the $650M Arts Commons Transformation—the largest cultural infrastructure project in Canadian history—and is writing a book on the civic responsibilities of arts organizations, scheduled for publication by ECW Press in 2024.