Anna Deavere Smith

Anna Deavere Smith serves as University Professor at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts with affiliation to the NYU School of Law. Her distinguished career includes prior appointments as Ann O'Day Maples Professor of the Arts at Stanford University (1990-2000), Visiting Professor at Yale School of Medicine (2000), and Artist in Residence at MTV Networks (2001-2004) and the Ford Foundation (1997).

Her research focuses on documentary theater as social commentary, pioneering verbatim performance techniques that examine race relations, civil unrest, and political dynamics through multiple perspectives. Smith's methodology transforms journalistic interviews into solo theatrical works that dissect societal conflicts while amplifying marginalized voices, creating what the MacArthur Foundation described as 'a blend of theatrical art, social commentary, journalism, and intimate reverie.'

Professor Smith's major creative works—including Pulitzer-nominated Fires in the Mirror (1992) and Tony-nominated Twilight: Los Angeles (1993)—established her as a leading voice in socially engaged theater. These projects analyze pivotal moments in American race relations through the exact words of participants, witnesses, and community members.

Her accolades include:

• MacArthur Fellowship (1996)
• Two TONY nominations and Obie Award for Twilight: Los Angeles
• Pulitzer Prize runner-up (1993) for Fires in the Mirror
• Drama Desk Award and New York Drama Critics' Special Citation

As founder and director of NYU's Institute on the Arts and Civic Dialogue—previously Harvard-affiliated—Smith cultivates cross-disciplinary collaborations where artists, scholars, and communities develop works addressing pressing social issues. The Institute embodies her commitment to using artistic practice as a catalyst for civic dialogue and social change.