Oona Hatton

Oona Hatton is an Associate Professor at the Department of Communication Studies within the College of Social Sciences at San Jose State University. Her research and practice intersect performance studies, race, and social justice, focusing on ethnographic work in community theatre, carceral settings, and pedagogy.

• Current Projects: Developing creative works with Davis Repertory Theatre, including a play on wildfires and a virtual storywalk with Indigenous communities.
• Research Focus: Critiques systemic racism in performance practices, exploring reparative methodologies in teaching and scholarship.
• Teaching Philosophy: Emphasizes embodied knowledge and equity-driven practices.

Her recent scholarship addresses the impact of hate crimes on university communities and the role of theatre in confronting white supremacy. She is committed to fostering face-to-face aesthetic experiences in an increasingly digital and polarized world.

Notable collaborations include co-facilitating SJSU's ODEI Whiteness & Race faculty series (2017-2018). Her work is guided by the principle of becoming 'good ancestors' as articulated by Judge Abby Abinanti.