معرفی
Karalee Dawn MacKay is an Assistant Professor and Director of the Arts Management Program at George Mason University’s College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA). She holds affiliate status in Mason’s Folklore program and has strong ties to the School of Theater. With over two decades of experience in performing arts management across Broadway, international festivals, and non-profit organizations, Dr. MacKay specializes in festival preservation, cultural tourism, and traditional arts. She oversees the Arts Management Minor, Accelerated Masters programs, and leads annual study abroad initiatives exploring cultural festivals in Europe and beyond.
- Education: PhD and MA in Theatre History & Performance Studies (University of Maryland, College Park); BA from Central College (Iowa).
- Research: Focuses on traditional arts festivals in Ireland, Scotland, and rural America, and the socio-economic impacts of cultural tourism.
- Teaching: Courses include Folklore and Festival Management, Festivals and Tourism, and directed research projects. She co-developed a partnership course with the Smithsonian Folklife Festival.
- Advocacy: A strong advocate for non-traditional students, drawing from her own background as a first-generation, non-traditional student.
Her professional experience includes roles as Managing Director of Cherry Lane Theatre (NYC) and production leadership at international festivals like Edinburgh Fringe and Havana’s Festival De Teatro. She actively researches and presents at conferences, emphasizing the intersection of folklore, tourism, and cultural sustainability.
