Nicole Adkins

Nicole B. Adkins (she/her) is a Part-Time Assistant Professor of Theatre at Kennesaw State University's Department of Theatre & Performance Studies. She is a multi-hyphenate theatre maker, award-winning playwright, and advocate for Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA).

• Literary and Education Director, Discovery Stage Company (Cobb County)
• Rotating Visiting Faculty, Hollins Playwright’s Lab
• Member: Dramatists Guild, TYA/USA, American Alliance of Theatre in Education, Environmental Education Alliance of Georgia

Research & Advocacy: Nicole specializes in creating accessible, inclusive, and imaginative storytelling for young audiences. Her work focuses on:

• Outdoor, immersive theatre experiences
• Community-engaged art initiatives
• Intersection of theatre and environmental education
• Playwriting pedagogy for youth
• Dramaturgical practices in TYA
• Family-centered theatrical storytelling

Publications & Recognition: Nicole has ten plays published with YouthPLAYS and has contributed to key TYA literature:

• Co-authored book: Playwriting and Young Audiences (2017)
• Essay in A Companion to Children’s Literature (2022)
• Essay in Bloomsbury Introduction to Children's and Young Adult Literature (2017)

• 2024 KSU Outstanding Part-Time Teacher Award
• Write Now Playwriting Award
• Beverly Hills Theatre Guild Marilyn Hall Competition Finalist (2017)

Environmental Engagement: Certified Pollinator Steward and Georgia Master Naturalist, Nicole integrates ecological awareness into artistic practice through:

• Gardening for wildlife conservation
• Outdoor theatre production design
• Eco-theatre education initiatives
• Family-friendly nature-based storytelling
• Community sustainability projects