Colleen Rua

Dr. Colleen Rua serves as Acting Associate Dean of Research and Strategic Initiatives for the College of the Arts and is an Associate Professor of Theatre Studies in the School of Theatre and Dance at the University of Florida. She holds affiliate faculty roles in the Center for Latin American Studies, Center for Arts in Medicine, and Center for Arts, Migration, and Entrepreneurship.

Education:

• PhD in Drama, Tufts University
• MA in Theatre Education, Emerson College

Her research focuses on Latinx Theatre, Immersive Theatre, and the American Musical, with emphasis on Puerto Rican cultural narratives and trauma-informed performance. Recent projects include her forthcoming book Performance, Trauma, and Puerto Rico in Musical Theatre, which examines the Y no había luz collective's role in post-disaster healing.

Directing Credits: Yemaya’s Belly, Marisol, An Awfully Big Adventure, and youth-focused immersive works like Alice in Wonderland. She co-founded Bridgewater State University's Acting for Justice troupe and directed at Arlington Children's Theatre and SouthCity Theatre.

Awards:

• 2021-2022 UF College of the Arts Teacher of the Year
• 2019 Bridgewater State University Presidential Award
• 2015 New England Theatre Conference Educator Award

Her work bridges academic scholarship and community-engaged practice, particularly in disaster response and social justice through theatre.