SERVICE
Through my various service roles at the Department, College, and University Level, I have worked to dismantle the systemic inequality that members of the community MSU face. For example, as a Faculty Accessibility Fellow and Open Educational Resource Learning Group participant, I examined accessibility as an issue of equity for students. My training in Restorative Justice through the Dean of Students Office gave me the skills to create a space for non-punitive methods of community repair after harm. My training in Transformative Justice through the Campus Transformative Justice Project gave me the skills to help departmental units dismantle systems that cause harm. In addition, I am currently pursuing a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy which has provided me with additional techniques in facilitating group dynamics and communication tools for finding solutions to tricky problems.
My administrative experience includes two years as Faculty Excellence Advocate (FEA) for the College of Arts and Letters, three years serving, one year chairing, on the joint curriculum committee of the six creative colleges (Arts & Letters, Music, Business, Residential College of Humanities, Communication Arts & Sciences, Business, and Education) and managing numerous grants and multi-institution interdisciplinary collaborations.
Professional Service
- Vice commissioner of programming for the Digital Media Commission of United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT), 2021 – present
- Michigan State University Theatre Institute, August 2016, August 2017, August 2018. Drama and technology workshops for Michigan high school teacher professional development. Institute Coordinator
- United States Institute for Technical Theatre, Salt Lake City, UT, March 2016. Projection Content Creation Professional Development Workshop Coordinator
University Service
- University Curriculum Committee Chair (2022 – 2023t)
- University Curriculum Committee Subcommittee C Chair (2021 – present)
- University Curriculum Committee Subcommittee C Member (2014-2016, 2019 – present)
College Level Service
- Faculty Excellence Advocate (2020 – present)
- Dean’s Art Advisory Council (2019 – 2020)
- College Reappointment, Promotion, Tenure Committee (2018 – 2020)
My work as a Faculty Excellence Advocate has most recently focused on the impact of COVID on caregivers, highlighting the long-term challenges faced by these faculty and staff. This position, appointed by the Dean and reporting to the Provost’s office, serves as a liaison between faculty and administration to report concerns and work to find solutions. I recently received a Center for Inclusive Excellence Grant ($14,500) to create training materials for evaluating faculty. The learning goals for this training include understanding systemic bias in current practices and applying inclusive, evidence-based evaluation.
Recent Department Level Service
- Department Reappointment, Promotion, and Tenure (RPT) Committees and annual review committees
- Chair of Department Chair Search Committee (2019 – 2020)
- Season Selection Committee (2019 – 2020)
My work as Faculty Excellence Advocate is a quarter-time position and counts as 100% of my service to the Department, College, and University. I volunteer to serve on University Curriculum Committee due to my interest in collaborative curriculum development. I chose to serve on Department level Review and Promotion committees as a service to my colleagues.
BIOGRAPHY
Professor of Integrated Media Performance Design
Department of Theatre
M.F.A. Digital Cinema
National University (2009)
A.B. Mathematics
Oberlin College (2000)
Auditorium
542 Auditorium Rd
Room 139
East Lansing, MI 48824
USA
517-884-7792
dobbinsa@msu.edu
Alison Dobbins is a Professor of Integrated Performance Media design at Michigan State University. She received her M.F.A. in Digital Cinema from National University and her A.B. in Mathematics from Oberlin College. She is the project director and creator of Dance Engine, Shark! The Interactive Musical, and BranchOut: interdisciplinary projects focused on exploring community building and audience engagement through the use of mobile applications, dance, music, and design. She is also a projection designer and her recent work includes projection design for Mitch Albom’s Ernie and Hockey the Musical and world premieres at Flint Repertory Theatre and Williamston Theatre.
Alison joined the Michigan State University Theatre Department faculty in 2009 and was tenured in 2016 and has served as the Faculty Excellence Advocate for the College of Arts and Letters since 2020. Mindfulness of diversity and community building are an essential part of Dobbins’ scholarship, teaching, and service. Her research projects focus on the creation of community through performer/audience interactions. She works with artistic collaborators from multiple disciplines at various institutions and includes these collaborations in her teaching. She has successfully used her project management skills as she takes on more responsibility in both service and research; working to build bridges in curriculum, diverse and inclusive session offerings at USITT, and create equitable systems both for the college and university.