Stephani Etheridge Woodson

Stephani Etheridge Woodson is a Professor in the School of Music, Dance and Theatre at Arizona State University, serving as Senior Associate Dean of the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts. She specializes in community cultural development and community-engaged theatre practices, directing the Herberger Institute's Design and Arts Corps initiative. Her research focuses on theatre with youth, ethical representation, arts in wellness, and collaborative performance creation. She holds a PhD from ASU and degrees from the University of Texas-Austin.

Education: Ph.D. (Theatre for Youth and Community), Arizona State University; M.A. (Theatre Pedagogy), University of Texas-Austin; B.F.A. (Theatre Studies), University of Texas-Austin.

Research emphasizes applied theatre in healthcare, youth empowerment through performance, and socially engaged art. She co-founded CENAS, a transdisciplinary group integrating arts and sciences for wellness. Key grants include NEA-funded projects on theatre's impact on behavioral change and community engagement.

Her work bridges arts and community development, with notable contributions to participatory theatre practices and intergenerational storytelling. She mentors numerous graduate students in arts research and holds leadership roles in professional associations like the American Alliance for Theatre and Education.

Labs/Teams: Design and Arts Corps, CENAS (Cultural Engagements in Nutrition, Arts and Sciences).