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Research Committee Members 2017 - 2020

Director of Research: Peter Duffy, United States - heads the Master of Arts in Teaching program in theatre education at the University of South Carolina. He teaches courses on drama-based pedagogies and arts integration. His research includes cognition and the arts, culturally responsive pedagogies and performed research. His latest book is a co-edited volume entitled Drama Based Research: Provocations of Practice. He co-edited the book with two idea members, Drs. Richard Sallis (director of publications) and Christine Hatton (research committee). 

Elif Bengu, Turkey - Received her B.Sc. in Education from Hacettepe University. In 2003 and 2009, she earned her M.Sc. and Ed.D degrees from the Faculty of Education, University of Cincinnati. She was awarded a full scholarship and Outstanding International Student award from the University of Cincinnati. In 2009, she worked as an International Students Affairs Advisor for the University of Kentucky. At the same time, she was teaching university transition courses. Dr. Bengu, was also involved with NAFSA: International Education Association and hold an active position with NAFSA Region VI. She returned to Turkey in 2013 and joined the Okan University faculty and thought pedagogy courses for the prospective teachers. At that time she also visited various countries in Europe as part of the Erasmus+ Teaching Exchange Program. Currently, she is establishing a center at AGU that provides support for faculty development with a particular emphasis on the use of alternative teaching methods in the classroom. She is a member of the Contemporary Drama Association in Turkey and planning to finish the Creative Teacher Trainer program in 2018. In April 2017, she attended the IDEA Austria seminer.

Julia Gray, Canada- is a playwright, theatre director and arts researcher. Having completed her PhD at University of Toronto, she is currently a postdoctoral fellow at Bloorview Research Institute, at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehab Hospital in Toronto, Canada. Her program of research focuses on the ways performance can open up social/cultural/historical/political conversations and exploring the ways disabled kids (and others) make art/theatre in applied settlings. She is also the editor of 'ReView: an anthology of plays committed to social justice' (Sense Publishers).

Christine Hatton, Australia - is a lecturer in the School of Education at the University of Newcastle, Australia, where she researches and teaches in the field of drama and creative arts education Her research explores the workings of gender and identity in the drama classroom, teacher artistry and expertise, artists in residence programs and the uses of digital technologies in drama. 

Ka Lee Carrie Ho, China - Carrie is a professional Dramatist, Educational Researcher and a licensed Therapist. She awarded a Doctor in Education degree at The Education University of Hong Kong and a Master of Arts in East/West Theatre Studies at Middlesex University (UK). Her research interests include cross-cultural and transdisciplinary arts-based research on aesthetics, education, special educational needs, and theatre studies with the lens of postmodernism (particularly with Deleuze). Her recent research studies include young autistic children’s creativity with drama improvisation and nurturing young children’s spirituality with arts-based pedagogy.

Isabel Moraes, Morocco - recently completed her Masters in Educational Theatre at NYU. She is originally from Brazil, currently living in Casablanca, Morocco where she works at the Casablanca American School as the High School Theatre Teacher. She is a married, mother of 2 young kids.

Beth Murray, United States- is an Associate Professor of Theatre Education at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte. There she coordinates the university’s theatre teacher/teaching artist preparation program. Years as a public-school theatre teacher, a teaching artist, a program development facilitator, and a playwright/author/director/deviser for young audiences undergird her current research and creative activity centered around multimodal, multilingual literacy and arts-driven community engagement.

Rannveig Björk Thorkelsdóttir, Iceland - is assistant Lecturer, at the University of Iceland, School of Education. She is an experienced drama teacher educator. She has been involved in curriculum development in creativity and introducing drama in compulsory schools and higher education. She is in her research and practice focused on drama and artistic approaches to teaching and learning. Dr Rannveig has published several books and articles on teaching and learning in drama. She is a professional actress and she has written and directed plays for children.

Lucilia Valente, Portugal -  Associated Professor and Director of the Theatre Studies Course. ( Scenic Arts Department of the the University of Évora) . Post-gradute Studies from 1986 and 1991 as full time student at the University of Wales (UK). Ph.D. on Therapeutic Drama and Dramatherapy (1991). She is the coordinator of Research Group of Arts , Education and Creativity. Her research interests include education through art, community theatre and dramatherapy as well as international research collaborations. She is the president of the Portuguese Movement of Artistic Intervention and Education through Art as well as the President of the Portuguese Association of Integrative Dramatherapy.

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English: International Drama/Theatre and Education Association 

Portuguese: Associação Internacional de Teatro Educação

French : Association Internationale Théâtre et Éducation 

Spanish: Associación Internacional Teatro y Educación 

Chinese 际戏剧/戏剧和教育

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