Sheri Williams Pannell

Sheri Williams Pannell is an Associate Professor and Theatre Area Head at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's Theatre Department. She specializes in directing, performance, and musical theatre, with a focus on community engagement and social justice themes in the arts. Her roles include artistic leadership at Bronzeville Arts Ensemble, Black Arts MKE, and the co-direction of Fine Arts Ministry at Calvary Baptist Church. In 2017, she was honored as Milwaukee’s Artist of the Year.

Education: MFA in Theatre/Directing from University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW-Madison) and BS in Natural Science/Health Science from Spelman College. Pannell is a native Milwaukee artist with extensive regional and national theatre collaborations, including work at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and the United Nations Conference on Genocide.

Her professional contributions include co-founding the Black Theatre Festival MKE (2020) and directing performances addressing critical social issues. Her artistic practice bridges academic, community, and institutional platforms to amplify underrepresented narratives in theatre.