Due Date: March 31, 2024

Purpose: To honor and remember Dr. Betty Jean Jones, a founding member of the American Theatre and Drama Society and highly respected and admired educator, the American Theatre and Drama Society accepts nominations each year for the Betty Jean Jones Award.

Jones received her B.A. in English from Bennett College, her M.F.A in Directing from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and her Ph.D. in American Theatre and Drama from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Internationally recognized for her scholarly expertise in American theatre and film, Dr. Jones was also an avid and internationally recognized director. After teaching at her alma maters, Dr. Jones was a Professor of Theatre and an Associate Dean at the University of Michigan until her untimely death from a plane crash. In honor of Dr. Jones’ memory and meaningful membership in ATDS and the field of American theatre, the Betty Jean Jones Award honors individuals who have achieved excellence as college/university teachers and mentors in the profession.

Award Amount and Additional Benefits: The Honoree will receive a travel stipend (up to $750) to attend the annual membership meeting and awards ceremony, a $200 Honorarium, and Lifetime Honorary Membership in ATDS (or if they already hold a lifetime membership, they may nominate up to ten student or contingent colleagues for one year’s membership).

Eligibility:

• Nominees should have taught on the college level (either full or part time) for at least 10 years. These need not have been consecutive.
• Nominees should have had an impact on students and the profession as a teacher and mentor, contributing to the field of theatre and drama in and of the Americas as a scholar and/or artist.
• Nominees should have demonstrated exceptional teaching and mentorship of undergraduates, graduate students, or early career colleagues within academic, artistic, and professional development settings.

Nominations: Nominees need not be members of either ATDS or ATHE, but the individual making the nomination must be a member of ATDS. Nominations from students, colleagues, and other members of the academic community are welcomed.

Recognizing that notions of America and the U.S. encompass migrations of peoples and cultures that overlap and influence one another, we especially encourage nominations of individuals whose mentorship cultivates knowledge production of and about the global majority.

Submissions: The ATDS nominating member must submit a letter of nomination with no more than three supporting letters. These submission letters should clearly describe the meritorious efforts, activities, and recognitions that provide evidence of the nominee’s distinctive contributions as a teacher and mentor.

Nominations should be sent by March 31, 2024, to Vanessa Campagna at vcampagna@monmouthcollege.edu. Email submissions with attachments are preferred. Please use the email heading: “Betty Jean Jones Award.”

The American Theatre and Drama Society will generally honor one person each year, but a nominee’s file will be considered for up to two subsequent years.

2023-2024 Committee: Vanessa Campagna (Monmouth College), Bethany Hughes (University of Michigan), and James Wilson (The Graduate Center, CUNY)

You can learn more about Dr. Jones and her legacy at the Gaines-Jones Foundation (https://www.gaines-jones.org/).

Previous Award Winners

2024

Ann Folino White

2023

Annabelle Winograd

2022

Brian Herrera

2021

Cheryl Black

2020

Brenda Murphy

2019

Faedra Chatard Carpenter

Bruce McConachie

2018

Heather Nathans

2017 

David Savran

2016 

Jonathan Chambers

2015 

Tice Miller

2014

Robert A. Schanke

2013

Dorothy Chansky

2012

Laurence Senelick

2011

Felicia Londré

2010

John Frick

2009

Elinor Fuchs

2008

David Krasner

2007

James Fisher

2006

Christopher Bigsby

Harry Elam

2005

Brooks McNamara

2004

Marc Robinson

2003

Barry Witham

2002

Patti Gillespie

2001

Linda Dorff

2000

Esther Jackson

1999

Don Wilmeth

1998

Rosemarie Bank

1997

Geri Maschio