Rate My Professor Kate Goodwin

Kate Goodwin, an Associate Professor of Theatre in the Department of Theatre and Dance at Middle Tennessee State University, specializes in stage management and theatre education within the Arts and Culture faculty. She serves as Director of the Tennessee Governor’s School for the Arts, managing a prestigious summer program for talented high school students in the arts. Goodwin earned her undergraduate degree from MTSU and holds an MFA in Stage Management from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Her career encompasses extensive experience as a production and stage manager, with additional roles in directing and design. After completing her undergraduate studies, she taught at the Nashville School for the Arts, chairing the Theatre Department from 2003 to 2006. Her graduate training facilitated international touring with The Builders Association’s production of Continuous City. Subsequently, she acted as Director of Education and Touring for Voices of the South Theatre Company in Memphis, Tennessee, and taught as adjunct faculty at the University of Memphis, Eastern Kentucky University, Asbury University, and Centre College. In 2014, Goodwin co-founded AthensWest Theatre Company in Lexington, Kentucky, where she served as Production Manager prior to joining the MTSU faculty.

At MTSU, Goodwin teaches courses including Stage Management, Theatre Education, and THEA 4610: Theatre in Education, integrating community-engaged pedagogy. She has secured significant funding as Principal Investigator for the Governor’s School for the Arts 2025 project, receiving $466,042 from the sponsor. Her mentorship supports student achievements, such as regional honors at the American College Theatre Festival. Goodwin contributes to departmental productions, faculty initiatives like the True Blue Core curriculum appreciation spotlight, and broader university events including the Governor’s School programming.