Elizabeth W. Son

Dr. Elizabeth Son is an Associate Professor and Area Head of Theatre History/Literature/Criticism/Theory at Northwestern University’s School of Communication. She holds affiliations with American Studies, Asian American Studies, Gender & Sexuality Studies, and Performance Studies. Her research bridges transnational performance art, gender-based violence, and justice advocacy.

• Education:
  • PhD in American Studies, Yale University
  • MPhil in American Literature, University of Cambridge
  • BA in English, Wellesley College

Elizabeth Son’s work examines how theatre and performance practices address historical trauma, particularly focusing on Korean/Asian diasporic women’s activism related to Japanese military sexual slavery and domestic violence. She integrates ethnographic, archival, and community-engaged methods to study art as a tool for social change.

Her recent articles explore neural activity in working memory, brain connectivity, and electrophysiological mechanisms, though these appear unrelated to her core research areas. This discrepancy may reflect data compilation errors.

• Scientific Awards:
  • Clarence Simon Award for Outstanding Teaching and Mentoring (2024)
  • Bonnie Ritter Outstanding Feminist Book Award (2020)
  • Scholars & Society Fellowship (2019)
  • Karl Rosengren Faculty Mentoring Award (2018)

Dr. Son leads the Interdisciplinary PhD in Theatre and Drama (IPTD) Program and serves on the editorial board of Theatre Journal. She actively collaborates with KAN-WIN on gender justice initiatives and co-edits the Women's Innovations in Theatre, Dance, and Performance series.