Joan McMurtrey

Joan McMurtrey is a Professor of Performing Arts at Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), serving since 2017. Previously, she held roles as Associate Professor at Columbia College Hollywood (2013–2017) and Faculty at AMDA (2016–2017). She has extensive experience in directing, teaching acting techniques, and curriculum development. Her roles include Thesis Committee Chair in SCAD’s M.F.A. program and SCAD recruitment liaison.

Education includes an M.F.A. in Acting from Yale University and a B.F.A. in Theatre from the University of Illinois. Her research interests focus on acting methodologies (e.g., Stanislavski, Meisner), commercial acting, directing, and industry preparation. She has developed courses like Acting for the Camera and Commercial Acting: Selling the Product.

Her workshops and presentations, such as Casting: The Nuts and Bolts of the Industry, emphasize practical industry skills. She actively participates in faculty committees, including those shaping academic programs like the Acting Emphasis at Columbia College Hollywood.