This summer, Dean Martine Kei Green-Rogers officially began her term as President of the Association for Theatre in Higher Education (ATHE), taking the reins from outgoing president CarlosAlexis Cruz. The two academic leaders came together for a candid and heartfelt video conversation about the future of theatre in higher education.
CarlosAlexis Cruz, a physical theatre professor at UNC Charlotte and co-director of the Community, Heritage, and the Arts Research Center, reflected on his time at the helm of ATHE during a moment of national transformation. He spoke of his desire to center community and service, to empower members, and to think creatively about sustainability in an evolving academic and artistic landscape. “We are in times of evolution,” he said, “and I think, and I hope, that's what's needed.”
Dean Green-Rogers echoed that sentiment, acknowledging the challenges facing higher education and the arts. “The way that we did things is not the way that we can continue to move forward,” she said. “I hope our time together over the next two years is about figuring out how and when people tag in and tag out, to help us keep going.”
Their conversation emphasized the importance of building bridges, listening deeply, and remaining focused on students, artists, and communities in the face of political and institutional resistance. As Green-Rogers put it: “One of the things that creatives can do well is be creative. We will figure it out.”
The Theatre School is proud to support Dean Martine Kei Green-Rogers as she brings her values, humor, and fierce advocacy to the national stage. Her leadership at ATHE reflects our commitment to equity, imagination, and transformation in theatre education.
You can watch a recording of ATHE's Leadership Transition here.