The Department of Theatre at The Ohio State University announced The Katie Whitlock Memorial Fellowship for Graduate Student International Travel.
Katie Whitlock (1970-2015) earned her PhD at The Ohio State University in theatre history, literature, and criticism in 2004. A model of engaged work as a scholar/artist, Whitlock also held an MFA in theatrical design (sound and costume) from the University of Memphis and a BFA in stage and arts management from the University of Arizona.
She was known as a vibrant, insightful, and creative personality, dedicated to rich collaboration with her colleagues and her students. At the time of her death, Whitlock was a beloved associate professor at California State University-Chico. There, she taught a broad range of courses and regularly directed. A passionate teacher, she is remembered for working around the clock for her students.
At Ohio State, Katie focused her research on theatre and technology. In 2003 she was key to the success of the first Department of Theatre collaboration with the Advanced Computing Center for Art and Design (ACCAD). She worked closely with a team from both theatre and ACCAD, serving as the liaison between their disciplinary needs. The resulting production—Adrienne Kennedy’s Sleep Deprivation Chamber—used digital animations, video imagery, and real-time projections. In 2004 she completed her innovative dissertation entitled “Theatre and the Video Game: Beauty and the Beast.” Recently she was invited back to the Department of Theatre to run a master class in sound design for students.
In honor of Whitlock’s strong influence on the Department of Theatre at Ohio State, with special attention to her deep engagement as a student and a teacher with international study, we are setting up this fellowship to aid a graduate student in obtaining international study experiences. Because Whitlock twice attended the London Theatre Program, a crown jewel in our department, we will prioritize applicants aiming to immerse themselves in that four-week program in contemporary British performance, scheduled for summer of 2016.
The first Katie Whitlock Memorial Fellowship for Graduate Student International Travel was presented to PhD students Eric Brinkman and Karie Miller and MFA acting student Blake Edwards at the end of year celebration in spring 2016.
If you would like to support this memorial tribute to Katie Whitlock, please choose one of the two instructions below.
To make a donation online with a credit card:
- Visit: https://www.osu.edu/giving/
- Select GIVE NOW in the upper right hand corner
- To make sure this donation is routed to the Department of Theatre:
- Click SEARCH next to “I want to Support”
- Type THEATRE DEVELOPMENT and hit the magnifying glass, then select this fund.
- To make it a memorial donation:
- Under “Additional Information,” select this gift is “In Memory of Someone” and enter Dr. Katie Whitlock in the box that appears.
To make a donation with a check:
- Make check payable to The Ohio State University, Memo line: In Memory of Katie Whitlock
- Send donations to:
Department of Theatre
ATTN: Rachel Barnes
The Ohio State University
1849 Cannon Drive
Columbus, Ohio 43210
If you have any questions, need more information or need any assistance in the donation process, please contact Rachel Barnes at barnes.209@osu.edu or 614-292-5080.
