Ivan Pulinkala, dean of the College of the Arts at Kennesaw State University, has named Chuck Meacham chair of the Department of Theatre & Performance Studies, effective July 1.

A professional theatre production manager and technical director, Meacham has served as professor of the Department of Theatre at University of Evansville (UE) in Evansville, Indiana since fall 2012. In 2018, he was named the John David Lutz Endowed Professor of Theatre. During his time at the University of Evansville, he taught a wide array of classes in scenic production techniques (carpentry, welding, rigging, drafting), production and stage management, senior seminar, portfolios, and sound. In 2010, he helped establish the Stage Management degree at the University of Evansville, a program he leads while also serving as the Department of Theatre’s production manager.

“Chuck Meacham brings over 20 years of professional and collegiate experience as a production manager and technical director to the Department of Theatre and Performance Studies at KSU,” Pulinkala said. “His commitment as an artist, scholar and community-engaged leader is evidenced by his outstanding body of work that is rooted in the professional practices in the arts. Prof. Meacham will continue to advance KSU’s Theatre and Performance Studies with a commitment to student success and artistic excellence.”

Meacham has worked professionally with organizations such as the Utah Shakespeare Festival, Hope Summer Repertory Theatre, and the North Carolina Shakespeare Festival in various capacities, including as a master electrician, lighting designer, production manager, and technical director. He has been highly active with the United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT) serving on the leadership team of the Technical Production Commission and a three-year term as the USITT Commissioner for Technical Production.

In 2018, Prof. Meacham was named a Global Scholar by the University of Evansville Center for Innovation and Change. As part of this award, in summer 2019, he participated in an Open Team Build in Chiang Mai, Thailand, identifying additional experiences for students and leadership training opportunities through the Habitat for Humanity Global Village Build Project.

Meacham received his MA in Theatre Technology from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and his BA in Theatre from Wake Forest University in North Carolina.