Macelle Mahala

Macelle Mahala is a Professor at the University of the Pacific with dual appointments in the Department of Art, Media, Performance and Design and the Department of English. Her teaching philosophy centers on creating safe spaces for student expression through creative writing, performance, and critical analysis of art within cultural contexts.

Her educational background includes:

• PhD from the University of Minnesota (2007)
• MA from the University of Minnesota (2004)
• BA from Macalester College (2001)

Professor Mahala's research investigates how artistic forms emerge from specific cultural and historical contexts, with emphasis on African American theater, intercultural performance, and equity in theater production. She examines how art challenges societal norms through interdisciplinary frameworks spanning performance art, playwriting, and dramaturgy. Her work consistently bridges historical analysis with contemporary social discourse.

Her publications reveal a sustained focus on institutional frameworks within African American theater, exploring urban cultural ecologies and artistic infrastructure across decades. The monographs demonstrate methodological rigor in connecting theater history with broader sociopolitical movements and spatial dynamics.

Her scholarly contributions have been recognized with:

• Honorable Mention for the 2014 Errol Hill Award for Outstanding Scholarship in African American Theatre Studies from the American Society of Theatre Research

Professor Mahala integrates research into pedagogy through field trips to cultural institutions and guest artist collaborations, fostering students' development of sophisticated creative voices grounded in historical and cultural understanding.