The College of Arts, Humanities, and Sciences is excited to announce Dr. Alicia Corts as the new head of the Department of Theatre and Film.

Corts received her undergraduate degree from Wheaton College and Ph.D. from the University of Georgia. When reflecting on her journey to higher education, she shared: “[I was] a political science major heading to law school, but we don’t choose the passions that come to us in life; just as theatre claimed me in my undergraduate days, teaching became a passion later.”

Before entering academia, Dr. Corts worked as the producer for a radio program, Decision Today. Once the show ended, she recalls thinking, “Maybe I’ll be a teacher.” She then taught at the Hennepin County Drug Court GED school. “[It was] a fabulous program that has brought hope to so many lives, and I loved it! I got my master’s in education, taught middle and high school, and then thought… I need to go higher. So, here I am.”

Please join us in giving a warm welcome to Dr. Corts. We are thrilled to have her as part of the Jax State College of Arts, Humanities, and Sciences!

10 Questions with Dr. Corts

What’s one of your favorite memories from your student years?

I went to Wheaton, and our theatre was an old elementary school that had transformed into the theatre. We would always strike the set right after the last show, working late into the early morning hours. We’d crawl up on the roof to watch the sunrise as a reminder that there’s always a new beginning, even as another one was ending. There is always another story to tell!

What is your vision for the Department of Theatre and Film?

I want our department to be a place of fearless curiosity, where students and faculty alike feel safe to collaborate and push creative boundaries. I like calling what I do failing well: we try new things, learn from our success and failure, then do it better. We’ll grow enrollment not just through recruitment, but through joyful, inclusive learning that connects our students to real-world work and to each other.

What do you think the biggest challenges the worlds of theatre and film are currently facing?

Theatre and film are both facing a crisis of sustainability and relevance. Funding is tight, audiences are shifting, and artists are under immense pressure to do more with less. At the same time, AI, streaming, and VR are redefining the landscape. The challenge is an opportunity: to reimagine our roles as storytellers, educators, and advocates, while building more adaptable models of creation and collaboration. We can face this storm and make better artists from it.

What’s a hidden talent/skill or something surprising about you?

I’m related to Edgar Allan Poe, and I even have his writing chair in my family. Beyond that bit of gothic trivia, I speak a bunch of languages. I’m currently slogging through learning my first Slavic language, Czech. The declensions are so incredibly difficult!

What drew you to Jax State CAHS Department of Theatre?

I was drawn to Jax State because of its mix of possibility and heart. This is a department ready for growth, with strong foundations and an eagerness to connect more deeply with its community. We’re already seeing so much excitement from local folks as we get out and talk about what we can offer, and it’s only going to grow from there!

What do you think every student should experience in college?

Every student should experience being truly seen, not just as a grade or a project, but as a whole person. Life is an adventure, and college is really the first opportunity students have to try an adventure of their own. They should take a risk that terrifies them and find out they’re more capable than they thought. My theatre mentor always says that everything worth doing will put some fear in your belly, so I hope every student feels the fear and does it anyway.

What would the title of your autobiography—or autobiographical screenplay—be?

Failing Well: The Scenic Route to Something Unexpected. It would be part tragicomedy, part behind-the-scenes docuseries, with a strong supporting cast and a few Shetland Sheepdogs playing themselves.

What do you enjoy doing outside of teaching?

I read a lot of cozy mysteries, and I’m a big crafter, so I always have some project in progress. I’m also the new pet parent to a Shetland Sheepdog named Bella, and since just training a dog to sit is boring, I’m teaching her to communicate with buttons. She’s up to 38 words, and she has a lot to say!

If you were stranded on a deserted island, but basic needs—such as food and water—were taken care of, what two items would you want to have with you?

A blank notebook with a good pen and an unabridged audiobook collection of Shakespeare, Sondheim, and sci-fi epics. That way I could write, listen, and build an imaginary repertory company with the birds.

Who has inspired you in your professional journey? Why?

I’ve been inspired by many, but Lawrence and Anna Halprin’s RSVP cycle transformed how I think about leadership and creativity. His ability to make space for values, improvisation, and structure all at once speaks to everything I believe about building teams and projects. There are far too many theatre and film people to mention. But someone in the social media realm who has me dreaming for my students is Julian Sewell, a New Zealand teacher whose short form videos on Instagram and TikTok have taken the world by storm. I love that social media has made creativity accessible to everyone and not just the studios who make films!