April 18, 2006

BIRMINGHAM, AL — Professor Will York, M.F.A., has been named chairman of the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Theatre, announced Bert Brouwer, M.F.A., dean of the UAB School of Arts and Humanities.

York was recruited from the department faculty as interim chairman when former chair Marc Powers departed in August for a position at the University of South Florida. Based on York’s performance as interim chair, the faculty of the UAB Department of Theatre recommended that he be appointed the next department chair, Brouwer said.

“Professor York brings to the position many years of academic theater experience as director of the University of Alabama/Alabama Shakespeare Festival professional actor training and master of fine arts program, co-director of the BFA acting program at the University of Colorado and as a faculty member of the professional actor training program at the University of Washington,” Brouwer said. “Professor York’s vision for the future of Theatre UAB is both ambitious and exhilarating and sure to place the department among the best programs in the region.”

In addition to his work with the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Professor York has served as a regional chair and member at large for the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival. He has served as a faculty member at Ohio University, the University of Washington, the University of Colorado and Auburn University. Currently he is the director for the radio soap opera “Bodylove,” which is carried by 16 radio stations in Alabama.