Jan is delighted to join us as interim Director of CSL (2015-2016). A professor in the Department of Drama, where she is past Chair (1999-2010), Jan's creation and research focus is using theatre in community settings around community issues. Recent projects include an extended engagement with community-based artists in western Kenya, directing Story House by Tanzanian-Canadian writer/performer Tololwa Mollel, and leading a Community-University Research Alliance of theatre and sexual health groups and researchers from across Canada to adapt and assess the impact of a participatory play and sex ed program in urban, rural and Aboriginal communities. Jan has also held appointments with UBC and as Artistic Director of Catalyst Theatre.
Jan has been recognized as a leader and scholar in her field with the University of Alberta Leadership Award and a Unit Teaching Award (BFA Acting Program), induction into Edmonton's Cultural Hall of Fame, and election as Fellow to the Royal Society of Canada. Her publications grow from her community-based theatre practice and experiential learning-centred classrooms. Based in this work, she co-wrote a book, Popular Theatre in Political Culture: Britain and Canada in Focus (Intellect) and just published a co-written book which emerged from the SSHRC funded Community-University Research Alliance: Are We There Yet? (AUPress). She also serves as a long term consultant with Aga Khan University as they develop an interdisciplinary and community engaged Faculty of Arts and Sciences for East Africa.
Jan has been a wonderful addition to the CSL team thus far and we look forward to working together over the next year!