Melanie O'Meara
Professor
Melanie O'Meara
Professor
Academic Appointment(s)
Pamplin College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
Department of Art and Design
Pamplin College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
Department of Communication
Bio
Dr. Melanie Kitchens O'Meara is a Professor in the Department of Art and Design at Augusta University, where she teaches theatre and performance courses for the Digital and Visual Storytelling degree. She received her Ph.D. and M.A. in Communication Studies with an emphasis in Performance Studies from Louisiana State University.
- MOMEARA@augusta.edu
- (706) 729-2419
- AH E121
Education
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Ph.D., Communication, General Louisiana State University & A, 2008
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MA, Speech and Rhetorical Studies Louisiana State University & A, 2004
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BA, Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General Georgia Southern University, 2001
Awards & Honors
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Leslie Irene Coger Award National Communication Association, 2024
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Summer RSCA Grant Pamplin College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, 2024
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Marion Kleinau National Scripting Award Department of Communication Southern Illinois University, 2022
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Dean's Fund for Excellence in the Arts Pamplin College, 2020
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Dean's Fund for Excellence in the Arts Pamplin College, 2020
Courses Taught Most Recent Academic Year
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FITH 4800
Creative Expression
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FITH 2010
Performance Composition
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FITH 3101
Performance Practicum
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FITH 3102
Production Practicum
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FITH 4000
Theory and Practice
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FITH 4630
Visual Culture as Performance
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FITH 3000
Voice and Movement
Teaching Interests
I have been teaching communication and performance studies courses since I started graduate school at Louisiana State University in 2001 and have been doing solo and group performance work since I was an undergraduate studying theatre at Georgia Southern University. I received my MA and Ph.D. in Communication Studies with an emphasis in Performance Studies from LSU. After graduate school, I taught basic communication courses and special topics courses in performance at the University of Georgia, and I have been teaching at Augusta University since 2012. In fall 2022, I along with my colleagues Matthew Buzzell and Doug Joiner, launched a new major in Digital and Visual Storytelling. In the program, I teach Performance Composition, Voice and Movement, Performance Theory and Practice, Performance Art, Visual Culture as Performance, and other courses. My favorite part of teaching is engaging students through performance exercises and games and using these activities to build strong, inclusive, and open communities, where students feel they can create and experiment with performance as a way of knowing and understanding themselves, others, and the world.
Scholarship
Selected Recent Publications
- Maricela de la Luz Lights the World, 2025
Theatre - Direct play - Is She Mad, or Does She Joke, 2024
Journal Article, Academic Journal - The Countess Holds Me, 2024
Journal Article, Academic Journal - Wishtree, 2024
Other - Alice's Adventure's in Wonderland, 2023
Other
Research Interests
My writing, research, and performance interests are in adaptation, visual culture, photography theory, performative writing, and performance art. I enjoy adapting my favorite novels from the page and putting them on stage like: Grendel, Charlotte's Web, and Wishtree. I also enjoy writing shows about my favorite photographs like Fanny's Fantastic Food Frolic about Sophie Calle's series of photographs The Chromatic Diet and Is She Mad, or Does She Joke about the photograph Scherzo di Follia by the Countess de Castiglione. I regularly present my scholarship by staging performances at conferences, festivals, and workshops. My research has been published in Text and Performance Quarterly and Liminalities: A Journal of Performance Studies.
Department Service
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Art and Design Meta Committee 2024 - Present
Role: Committee Member
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Maintain Theatre AUG Social Media (Facebook and Instagram) 2014 - Present
Role: Faculty Advisor
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Departmental Tenure and Promotion Committee 2020 - 2024
Role: Committee Chair
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Animation Search Committee 2023 - 2023
Role: Committee Member
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Painting/Drawing Search Committee 2023 - 2023
Role: Committee Member
College Service
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Pamplin New Faculty Mentor Program 2024 - Present
Role: Faculty Mentor
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Pamplin Faculty Research and Development Committee 2024 - 2025
Role: Committee Member
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Pamplin Curriculum Committee 2021 - 2024
Role: Committee Member
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Ad-Hoc ByLaw Review Committee 2021 - 2021
Role: Committee Member
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Pamplin Faculty Research and Development Committee 2018 - 2019
Role: Committee Chair
University Service
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Lyceum Committee 2019 - Present
Role: Committee Member
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Faculty Inclusive Excellence Initiative Visiting Scholar: Roger Ideishi 2023 - 2023
Role: Committee Member
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Faculty Evaluation Policy Review and Alignment Tenure Review Committee 2022 - 2023
Role: Committee Member
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Preview Day 2021
Role: Student Recruiter
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Theatre Camp 2019 2019 - 2019
Role: Program Coordinator
Professional Service
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Performance Studies International 2019 - Present
Role: Member
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Text and Performance Quarterly Editorial Board 2019 - Present
Role: Editorial Review Board Member
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Performance Studies Division, National Communication Association 2013 - Present
Role: Reviewer
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Southern States Communication Association 2006 - Present
Role: Member
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National Communication Association 2001 - Present
Role: Member
Public Service
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Westobou Programming Committee 2022 - 2025
Role: Committee Chair
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Westobou Board of Directors 2021 - 2025
Role: Board Member
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Four Voice and Movement Workshops at Episcopal Day School 2024 - 2024
Role: Workshop Organizer
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Theatre AUG Hosts Film Screening with Guest Artist David Byars 2024
Role: Program Coordinator
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Theatre AUG 2023 - 2023
Role: Program Coordinator