Susanna Rinehart

Susanna Rinehart is an Associate Professor of Performance in the School of Performing Arts at Virginia Tech, part of the College of Architecture, Arts, and Design. She holds academic affiliations with the Theatre, Cinema, and Music faculties. Her roles include membership in the Virginia Tech Faculty Senate and University Council. Rinehart’s teaching focuses on Introduction to Theatre, Performance, and Theatre History/Literature, with over 500 students annually. Her research emphasizes Documentary Theatre, directing, and acting.

Education: MFA and BA in Theatre from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.

Research & Awards: Recipient of prestigious teaching and diversity grants, including the 2005 Advancing Women Award. Her creative work spans acting, directing, and documentary theatre productions at Virginia Tech. Notable contributions include advocating for women and minority artists through funded lecture series.

Personal Insights: Passionate about student mentorship, she highlights the joy of witnessing student growth. Her favorite campus venue is the Studio Theatre, designed by colleague Randy Ward. Early career highlights include childhood roles in school plays like "The Wizard of Oz" and connections to artists like Billy Finn.