Katie Campbell (’14 MFA Theatre for Young People) is the recipient of a 2026 College of Visual and Performing Arts Distinguished Alumni Award. Katie is Learning Engagement Manager at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater in Washington, DC, bringing a passion for youth-centered storytelling and a track record of creative leadership.
Her previous roles include Assistant Manager for Theater Education at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and Director of Children’s Theatre & Performing Arts at the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, Katie has directed, written, and performed in dozens of productions nationwide and abroad; co-founded a teen improv company; and facilitated arts training for educators, students, and corporate teams.
Her work has been recognized with two Mid-America Emmy Awards, the Jim Henson Award for Innovation by Puppeteers of America, and a Jim Henson Foundation Family Grant. She holds an MFA in Theatre for Young People from UNC Greensboro and a BA in Theatre Arts from UNC-Charlotte.
Prior to the Distinguished Alumni Awards ceremony, Campbell shared thoughts about her experience at the School of Theatre.
What brought you to UNCG?
“I knew that I wanted to deepen my artistry by pursuing an MFA. There were a handful of great schools to choose from, but I came to UNCG because of Professor Rachel Briley, whose work, spirit, and approach to theater for young audiences made it the clear choice for me. I was interested in the intersection of directing, pedagogy, and artistry—what it means to create meaningful theatre with and for young people, both as an artist and as a teaching artist. I was drawn to the belief that young people deserve art for art’s sake, and that they should be treated as full human beings with complex inner lives, not simply as “future adults.” I was thirty-three when I entered the program and brought an established theater career and a wealth of life experience with me. I wanted the time, community, and opportunity to deepen my practice alongside people who shared that passion. UNCG helped me feel more grounded in my identity as an artist and in my belief that theatre for young people is an art form in its own right with its own rigor, possibilities, and power.”
What was the best part of your UNCG experience?
“I think the best part was the people and the opportunity to make things together. I was surrounded by incredibly talented fellow students who became friends, intense artistic collaborators, and ongoing inspirations. There was a real sense of trust in the room—not just among us as students, but from a number of faculty members, who encouraged us to experiment, take creative risks, and pursue ideas that didn’t always fit within traditional approaches to theatre.”
How did UNCG prepare you for what you’re doing today?
“My career hasn’t followed a straight line, but so much of it can be traced back to UNCG. The relationships I built there, the work we created together, and the opportunities that grew from those experiences helped shape my path—from directing in China and at Wayne State University to developing The Ugly Duckling beyond graduate school with support from a Jim Henson Foundation Family Grant. Today, as Associate Director of Community Engagement at Arena Stage, I bring together so many aspects of my career: youth and family programming, supporting teaching artists, and building sustainability in the arts through meaningful cultural partnerships. Looking back, I can see how the people, experiences, and creative risks I encountered at UNCG continue to shape not just what I do, but how I approach the work.”
What is the best lesson you learned, the most important takeaway from UNCG?
“I think the most important takeaway from UNCG was to trust the work, trust my instincts, and trust the people around me. UNCG gave me the space to develop ideas, the collaborators to grow them, and the confidence to follow where they might lead. It was a great affirmation that we don’t have to know exactly what something will become for it to be worth pursuing. Sometimes you just need the curiosity to ask a question, the courage to try something unconventional, and the willingness to stay open to what emerges when you create alongside other people.”
Any favorite professors or memories you’d like to share?
“Without question, my favorite professor and mentor is Professor Rachel Briley. I cannot thank her enough for championing my admission to UNCG. I took a nontraditional path to graduate school, and she believed in me from the beginning, working hard to help make this incredible opportunity possible. I will always be grateful for that.
“Rachel helped me to trust my instincts as an artist, and she supported my growth not only as an artist but as a human being—even when that meant standing behind me when it wasn’t necessarily the easiest or most popular position. Her talent, artistic sensibility, and approach to theater for young audiences continue to shape my work. I’m so fortunate that, more than twelve years later, her voice is still part of my inner chorus: encouraging me, challenging me, and cheering me on. That is an extraordinary gift for a mentor to give, and one I hope to carry forward in my own work with artists and young people.”
