Ursula Payne (1969-) was hired in 1996 at Slippery Rock University as a professor in the Department of Dance. Payne assumed the role of University Dance Theater director, introducing students to new experiences such as the American College Dance Festival. She served as chair of the Department from 2011 to 2020 and was instrumental in the Dance program’s development, including initiating changes in curriculum such as the inception of the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance.
Over her tenure at SRU, Payne has served as Director of the Frederick Douglass Institute and was appointed by President Bill Behre as the Diversity Liaison Officer to the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. She achieved remarkable success in creative endeavors including choreography and movement direction for the 2021 film Obi Mbu (The Primordial House). In 2022, Payne was appointed Interim Associate Provost for Academic Finance, Planning and Strategic Initiatives, ultimately filling that role at SRU in a permanent capacity.
Interview: February 23, 2024Interview Transcript |
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