Bobbi
Owen, the Michael R. McVaugh Distinguished Professor of Dramatic Art,
is Senior Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education in the College of
Arts and Sciences.
She has been a member of the University faculty since 1974. As senior associate dean, she oversees all of the College’s programs in undergraduate education, including Academic Advising, Academic Services, Distinguished Scholarships and Intellectual Life, First Year Seminars and Academic Experiences, Honors and the Johnston Center for Undergraduate Excellence, the Robertson Scholars, Student Academic Counseling, Undergraduate Research, and Undergraduate Curriculum. She has been involved with the revision and implementation of the new undergraduate curriculum.
She previously served as associate dean for arts and sciences, interim associate dean for general education, associate dean for academic services, and assistant dean for the General College. She was a member of the administrative boards of the College and the General College for ten years.
In the department of dramatic art, she served as director of the honors program and of undergraduate studies and head of the graduate costume design program. She has taught undergraduate and graduate courses, honors classes, and first year seminars.
She is an expert theatrical designer, responsible for costume design
for dozens of regional productions including several every year for
PlayMakers Repertory Company. She has written hundreds of
articles and six books about theatrical designers, including The
Designs of Willa Kim (2005) and most recently the exhibition
catalog for the United States entry in the 2007 Prague Quadrennial,
Design USA.
Owen is vice president for communications for USITT (United States
Institute for Theatre Technology) and chair of its publication
committee. She is also a member of the publications committee
of OISTAT, the International Organization of Scenographers,
Technicians, and Architects of the Theatre.
She has a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of
Wisconsin at Madison.
