Professor Emeritus Robert C. Hansen passed away on October 20, 2025. Dr. Hansen was a UNC Greensboro faculty member for thirty-four years from 1986 to 2020. For twelve years he served as Chair of the Department of Communication and Theatre and later the Department of Broadcasting/Cinema and Theatre, now the School of Theatre. As Chair he led the successful effort to have the theatre program accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theatre. Hansen also served for fourteen years as Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences where his responsibilities included the curriculum, freshman seminars, and the online BA in liberal studies program.
Hansen taught in the areas of theatre history, dramatic literature, non-western theatre, musical theatre, and design. He authored the book Scenic and Costume Design for the Ballets Russes (UMI Research Press, 1985) as well as articles and reviews for such journals as Southern Theatre, Theatre Crafts, and Theatre Design and Technology. He also worked extensively as an artist designing sets, lighting, and/or costumes for over one hundred stage productions for community, educational, and professional companies. His collection of ten thousand theatre and performing arts items comprise the Robert C. Hansen Performing Arts Collection in the UNCG Libraries.
A native of Minnesota, Hansen was the first in his family to attend college. He received his BA degree in theatre and English from the University of Minnesota-Morris, an MS degree from Florida State University, and his PhD from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. Before UNCG, he taught at Bowling Green State University where he chaired the theatre department and served as managing director of the Huron Playhouse. Hansen served as an officer in the American Theatre Association, National Association of Schools of Theatre, North Carolina Theatre Association, Southeastern Theatre Conference, and United States Institute for Theatre Technology–Ohio Chapter. In 2012 Hansen received the University of Minnesota–Morris Alumni Association Distinguished Alumni Award, and in 2020 he was awarded the UNCG College of Visual and Performing Arts Distinguished Alumni Award.
Memorial donations to the Robert C. Hansen Scholarship Endowment in Theatre Education can be made at <https://giving.uncg.edu/how-to-give/> or by making a check out to UNCG with “Hansen Scholarship Endowment” in the memo line and mailing it to UNCG Advancement Services, PO Box 26170, Greensboro, NC 27402.
