As the 2024 recipient of the Betty Jean Jones Award, Ann Folino White, associate professor of theatre studies at Michigan State University, joins the ranks of a select group of scholars honored by this prestigious national award for excellence in teaching and mentorship in theatre.
Presented by the American Theatre and Drama Society, or ATDS, an international body of scholars dedicated to the study of theatre, performance, and drama across the Americas, the Betty Jean Jones Award signifies the profound influence Folino White has made on her students, colleagues, and the broader academic and theatre communities.
For Folino White, the honor is more than just a recognition of her accomplishments – it is a validation of her lifelong commitment to inclusivity, impactful mentorship, and the study of theatre.
“It’s a big deal because to me it’s about a career, not just one project,” she said. “That kind of recognition from people who I admire, who have been my mentors and my intellectual companions, is really meaningful.”
Kirk Domer, professor of scene design and graduate program director in MSU Department of Theatre, nominated Folino White for the award.
“I have been so lucky to have a colleague with whom I can discuss my research, student challenges and opportunities, and professional guidance, and I know that I (like her students) will get fair, balanced, and honest advice. Advice that sometimes comes along with tough love when I have been cutting corners,” Domer said. “That is a friend and a colleague to treasure.”
Redefining theatre history
Folino White’s work is distinguished by her commitment to dismantling the narratives that have long dominated theatre education. Her efforts have not only broadened the scope of what is taught in classrooms but also have redefined how theatre history is understood and appreciated.
Collaborating with colleague Dan Smith, Folino White overhauled the department’s theatre studies curriculum at MSU by shifting away from a linear approach and the idea that history can be told from a single set of facts, or a single perspective.
“We created courses that are about problems or themes in history, such as gender constraints, racism, sexuality, and other social and cultural constructs,” Folino White said. “We can see how different cultures, different societies, at different points in time, addressed these matters or explored them through theatre. I’m really proud that we got rid of predominantly Eurocentric, masculine stories of theatre history.”
Folino White’s dedication to inclusivity extends beyond curriculum development. As former chair of the President’s Advisory Committee on Disabilities Issues at MSU, she worked with students to ensure the university’s facilities were accessible to all students. One of her most significant achievements with this committee was her support of students who advocated for change at Spartan Stadium, where students with mobility issues had long been segregated from their peers during athletics events. Their efforts resulted in the development of accessible seating within the student section.
For Folino White, this victory at Spartan Stadium was not hers – it belonged to the students. Her advocacy on their behalf, however, is representative of her commitment to breaking down barriers and fostering a sense of belonging for all members of the university community.
“They [the students] were leading it, and I was supporting them,” Folino White said. “We changed Spartan Stadium so that students could be with students. That was huge for me.”
Teaching and mentorship
If there’s one aspect of her career that Folino White holds above all others, it’s her role as a teacher and mentor.
“Teaching and mentorship are my reasons for what I do,” she said. “I care about reducing barriers to everybody’s success, but I’m particularly fond of students and mentees.”
She describes her teaching philosophy as one rooted in curiosity and collaboration, where the exchange of ideas is as important as the information being conveyed.
with people because collaboration lets you see multiple dimensions to a problem or an issue and usually provides interesting solutions. People bring different resources with them and different ideas and ways of thinking. I love the dynamism of that invention and brainstorming. That’s one aspect of teaching that I absolutely love.”
This collaborative approach extends to her mentorship, where she strives to help students and colleagues navigate the opaque structures of academia and the arts.
“Navigating higher education and the arts industries is not easy and trying to move both those institutions toward inclusivity is hard work. If I can do anything at the most local level, in terms of direct contact, I can help my classes, my students, and my colleagues recognize barriers, and navigate and understand how these institutions work,” Folino White said. “I care about people fulfilling their dreams. That’s my dream. If I do a good job as a teacher and a mentor, I end up with the most amazing network of human beings who are fascinating and highly accomplished.”
Folino White’s influence as a mentor is perhaps best illustrated by the success of her former students, many of whom supported her award nomination. The impact of her mentorship is best captured by the voices of those she has guided.
“Ann Folino White’s teaching isn’t just about imparting knowledge, it’s about sharing her personal joy for theatre and drama, which left a profound impact on me and my classmates,” said Brittane Rowe, co-founder of Hella Awkward and a 2011 MSU graduate with a BFA in Acting. “As my professor, her mentorship went beyond academics, nurturing my creativity and confidence in the field.”
Similarly, Wes Haskell, a Company Manager on Broadway and 2012 MSU graduate with an MFA in acting, credits Folino White with cultivating a mindset of creative and critical thinking that continues to shape his professional development. “Her mentorship has transcended time, serving as a beacon to generations of leaders, artists, and teachers,” he said. “She has influenced and championed many of my personal and professional endeavors and inspired my desire to be a lifelong learner.”
These sentiments also are echoed by Andy Head, now an assistant Professor at Rochester Institute of Technology and the National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID) Performing Arts, who graduated from MSU in 2015 with an MFA in Acting. “Her guiding hand, high standard of expectations, and honest advice have bolstered scores of students to find the best in themselves,” he said. “Years later, and now as an educator and director myself, I still have nothing but the utmost admiration and respect for her.”
Abbie Cathcart, a visiting assistant teaching professor of theatre at the College of William and Mary who graduated from MSU in 2021 with an MFA in acting, describes how Folino White’s mentorship during graduate school was instrumental in shaping their approach to directing. “Ann modeled excellent preparation and planning that showed respect to each member of the collaboration,” Cathcart said. “She uplifted stories that deal with issues of gender, sexuality, and systemic power. This made me feel seen, as I am a non-binary artist-educator who was still finding out who I was when I worked with her.”
Vision for the future
As Folino White looks to the future, her goals are as ambitious as ever. She is currently working on a book about the Actors’ Equity Association, the union that represents professional actors in the United States. The book explores acting as work and unionized labor, a concept that Folino White believes is often misunderstood and ignored.
However, Folino White’s most immediate priority is revitalizing the learning environment at MSU, particularly in the wake of the challenges posed by the pandemic.
“My immediate goal is to embrace the gift that is learning together in a classroom,” Folino White said. “That’s priority one: making my classroom everyone’s classroom, a space conducive to learning, and not just accommodating people, not just shifting content to be more representative, but really welcoming people, welcoming them with different forms of thought, with different perspectives, and embracing discomfort as part of the process of moving towards better learning environments, better working conditions, and better living environments.”
Through her innovative curriculum development, advocacy for inclusivity, and unwavering commitment to her students and colleagues, Folino White is making a lasting impact on the field of theatre and on the lives of those she has taught and mentored.
In recognizing her with the Betty Jean Jones Award, the American Theatre and Drama Society has affirmed what those who know her best have long understood: She is not just a scholar and teacher; she is a force for change, dedicated to making the world of theatre a more inclusive, vibrant place for all.
The Betty Jean Jones Award honors and remembers Betty Jean Jones, who was a highly respected and admired American theatre and drama teacher. The award that bears her name honors individuals who have achieved excellence as college/university teachers and/or scholars and have served as mentors in the theatre profession.
Folino White was presented with the award at the American Theatre and Drama Society’s annual membership meeting in August 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia