A $2 million gift from Kathleen Ford ’80 enhances the undergraduate experience for students in the Department of Dramatic Art in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The Kathleen A. Ford Department of Dramatic Art Undergraduate Fund will enhance the undergraduate experience in a variety of ways, including but not limited to internships and experiential learning opportunities, academic travel and conferences, guest speakers and facilities upgrades for Kenan Theatre Company.
The $1 million endowed and $1 million expendable funds bring new opportunities to College dramatic arts students immediately and in perpetuity. Through internships and apprenticeships with theatre experts, the endowed fund will help students be better prepared for careers in theatre and beyond. The high-impact experiential learning opportunities this fund supports complements traditional instruction in the dramatic arts by allowing students to gain relevant, professional experience and explore future career paths. As the department approaches its 90th anniversary, Ford’s expendable gift will ensure funds are available to create an immediate impact in preparation for this historic milestone.
“Carolina has a long and rich theatrical history and boasts the second oldest theatre department in the country,” shared Chancellor Lee H. Roberts. “The Kathleen A. Ford Department of Dramatic Art Undergraduate Fund is a fitting tribute to celebrate the department approaching its 90th anniversary and ensures future generations of dramatic art students will receive unmatched educational experiences.”
Ford has long been an advocate for arts education and credits her Carolina dramatic art degree for her successful career in corporate finance.
“I used skills from my time in UNC dramatic art on a daily basis,” Ford shared. “My job required financial presentations to upper management during which I had to think fast and be confident in my responses. Through my time at Carolina, I was prepared to communicate effectively beyond the walls of the theatre.”
“The Department of Dramatic Art is so grateful for Ford’s transformational gift. The gift affirms the value of the arts as they reflect our culture and community,” said Kathryn Hunter-Williams, Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Dramatic Art. “The department is a national leader in training theatre artists. A UNC dramatic art degree prepares students to be global citizens by developing critical thinkers and powerful communicators. Kathleen’s love for Carolina shines brightly and her gift will be a guiding light for generations to come.”
Three dramatic art undergraduate students have already benefited from Ford’s investment. With the help of Ford’s lifelong friend and technical theatre expert, Linda Heard ’79, three students traveled to New York City to the Broadway Theatre District for a weekend intensive, supporting the rehearsal of the Broadway play, Purpose. The undergraduates, “ate up every minute, and they came buzzing out of rehearsal with so much excitement and sense of possibility,” shared Aubrey Snowden, assistant teaching professor in the Department of Dramatic Art, who accompanied the students. “This trip is going to stick with them for the rest of their lives.”
In addition to supporting Set Decorations and Prop Supervisor Faye Armon-Troncoso during rehearsal, students visited the Performing Arts Library and the Museum of Broadway and heard from technical theatre experts about their work and career paths.
“Nothing compares with being in the room where it happens,” shared Heard. “The three technical undergraduate students have now seen firsthand what it takes to put on a Broadway show. They observed the hundreds of people involved and had the chance to ask industry professionals questions. They learned about the hierarchy of a Broadway production and who does what. They witnessed professionals problem-solving, disagreeing and resolving conflicts, and saw how people work together to reach a consensus on a project.”
Ford’s gift ensures this type of experience will be replicated for students for years to come. “I can’t over-emphasize the gift of an arts education,” Ford stressed. “I wanted this gift to foster an immersive undergraduate experience and help prepare students for a career in theatre or in whatever path they choose.”
Founded in 1936, the Department of Dramatic Art is committed to cultivating a diverse and inclusive environment for the community that it serves, including students, staff, faculty and guest artists. Over the decades, the department has trained many nationally recognized artists, including nominees and winners of the Academy, Tony and Emmy Awards, as well as the Pulitzer Prize. It offers a comprehensive undergraduate degree in dramatic art. It also offers a minor in dramatic art with concentrations in dramaturgy, theatrical design, theatre management and theatre production, and musical theatre performance, as well as a minor in writing for the screen and stage. Twenty percent of UNC undergraduate students take classes in dramatic art, which teach the enduring skills of leadership, problem-solving, collaboration and communication.
“The Department of Dramatic Art plays an essential role in helping the College fulfill its mission of providing a broad-based liberal arts education,” shared Jim White, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. “We are incredibly grateful to Kathleen Ford for her commitment to the arts and ensuring Carolina dramatic art students are equipped with the necessary critical thinking, teamwork and communication skills to be thoughtful and engaged citizens.”
Kathleen Ford and Linda Heard
The two friends and former college roommates, Ford and Heard, met at Carolina as dramatic art majors. Now, they’ve given back to the University that prepared them for their successful careers, Ford’s in corporate finance and Heard’s in technical theatre in New York City.
Heard played a key role in determining the most effective use of the fund. With her lifelong career in technical theatre on Broadway, she serves as an invaluable connector to theatre professionals in New York.
“I’m very grateful to Kathleen for involving me in this project. When she mentioned making a donation to Carolina, we discussed the possibilities and what it would take to create something meaningful for the undergraduate population,” Heard shared. “We talked about what would have made a difference for us when we were there. I believe that her donation can change undergraduates’ lives.”
If you are interested in supporting the Kathleen A. Ford Department of Dramatic Art Undergraduate Fund, visit go.unc.edu/KathleenFord.
Written by Laura Batts-Thomas
Photo courtesy of the UNC Department of Dramatic Art
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