Shelley Barish Named 2024 Nancy L. Donahue Endowed Professor of the Arts

Shelley Barish

Theatre Arts Professor Shelley Barish has been named as UMass Lowell’s 2024 Nancy L. Donahue Endowed Professor of the Arts. 

“With this honor, I strive to continue my lifelong goal of exposing young people to the magic of the theater, which creates a space for all, regardless of ethnicity, gender, social economic class, or language,” Barish said. “It’s an environment that inspires and encourages expression, creative problem solving and connection. I want all community members to feel comfortable and welcome, and to know theater is a place for them.”

Together, UMass Lowell, Middlesex Community College and Merrimack Repertory Theatre will stage two live productions for K-12 students and bring educational resources connected to those plays to area schools.

“Shelley Barish is an exemplary designer, teacher, mentor, and leader of our theatre arts program,” said Sue Kim, dean of the university’s College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. “We’re very excited about the work she’s already done with community partners and will continue to accomplish through the Donahue Professorship. Engagement with the Greater Lowell community is a hallmark of the college and UMass Lowell.”

Benefactor Nancy Donahue agrees: "It is so important UMass Lowell, Middlesex Community College, Merrimack Repertory Theatre and the Greater Lowell community all work together to enhance the experience of the theater for young and old and those in-between,” Donahue said. “Shelley has an amazing resume. I am thrilled that she has been named the Donahue Professor of the Arts.”

The upcoming performances in 2025 and 2026 will expand on UMass Lowell’s successful collaboration with both partners earlier this year. “The community partnership will combine the talents of many collaborators and cultivate both essential aspects of the theater ecosystem: creators and audiences,” Barish said. “Students at both UMass Lowell and Middlesex Community College will gain valuable experience working on a production and shadowing professional artists, while young people will experience live performance and learn about the craft.”

In addition, local schools may ask the theater collaborators to bring scaled down productions of each show into local K-12 schools or host the troupe for question-and-answer sessions or theater workshops. All events will be free and open to the public. 

Upcoming Events

Each semester, we are proud to offer informative talks from leading experts on a variety of topics. Check back here for the latest schedule of upcoming events.

About the Series

The Donahue Professor of the Arts is made possible by the generous support of philanthropist and Lowell native Nancy L. Donahue. Together with her late husband, Richard, she established the Nancy L. Donahue Endowed Professorship in the Arts in 2009. Founded to help connect the music, fine arts, theatre and creative writing programs at UMass Lowell with local music, arts and theater organizations in the Lowell community, the series seeks to nurture artistic passion and talent in students, while taking advantage of the vast artistic resources within the city of Lowell.

Past Events

Click on the plus signs below to access information about our past speakers.

Show Your Support

Make a donation today to support this and additional programming like it.