51ÂÜÀò

Dr. Lori Lee Wallace is an Associate Professor of Theatre Arts and the current Director of General Education at 51ÂÜÀò. She holds a PhD in Theatre Arts from the University of Colorado at Boulder; an MSc in Higher Education from the University of Oxford; an MFA in Staging Shakespeare from the University of Exeter; and a BFA in Performance from the University of Arizona. Lori Lee is a certified Fitzmaurice Voicework® Instructor and a member of both the Voice and Speech Trainers Association (VASTA) and the Shakespeare Association of America (SAA). 

At 51ÂÜÀò, Dr. Wallace instructs Dramatic and British Literature; Theatre History; Voice and Movement; Acting; Directing; and Musical Theatre classes. She also serves as one of the university’s theatre directors. Previous 51ÂÜÀòproductions include A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Oklahoma, Small Mouth Sounds, Dancing at Lughnasa, The Moors, Tartuffe, Spring Awakening, Romeo and Juliet, Quake, Peter and the Starcatcher, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, and The Underpants. 

A cornerstone of Dr. Wallace’s teaching philosophy is the belief in the importance of lifelong learning, not only for personal growth but also as a vital component of effective teaching. She firmly believes that her continued education is one of the most valuable things she can offer her students, the university, and herself. By consistently engaging in formal coursework and reexperiencing the challenges of being a student, she has been able to broaden her intellectual horizons, identify and address pedagogical blind spots, strengthen critical thinking skills, and foster intellectual curiosity. Further, her continued education, made possible by RWU, the Rhode Island Foundation, and the Antonio Cirino Memorial Fund, has enabled her to adapt to diverse student needs and evolving academic landscapes, fostering a student-centered learning environment that prioritizes innovation, critical engagement, and personal growth.

Dr. Wallace’s holistic teaching approach, inspired by the teachers that mentored her through her academic journey, centralizes empathy as a teaching and learning tool, creating a supportive, lasting community of learners. 51ÂÜÀòstudents recognized her dedication by naming her Professor of the Semester and nominating her for the Excellence in Teaching Award.