Dr. Dontá McGilvery is a trailblazer, proudly making history as the first Black male to earn a PhD in Theatre from Arizona State University. A scholar-practitioner, ordained pastor, and passionate community activist, Dr. McGilvery's work resonates at the dynamic intersection of higher education, the local community, and the Black church. His innovative research combines theatrical and theological perspectives to empower leaders and institutions, advocating for the equitable centering of society’s most vulnerable populations.
Dr. McGilvery believes that theatre and performance permeate everyday life, using them as transformative tools in various roles—whether teaching theatre students, serving meals to unhoused individuals, or shaping administrative strategies. Currently, as the Coordinator for Graduate Student Experience in the Graduate College’s Professional Development and Engagement team, he plays a vital role in onboarding new ASU graduate students. He designs orientations that illuminate diverse career paths and leads the New Scholars Colloquium course for Presidential Scholars and Graduate College Enrichment Fellows.
Before joining the Graduate College, Dr. McGilvery served as the Dean’s Fellow and Coordinator for the Culture and Access Department at the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts. There, he launched initiatives like HIDA’s "Shifting the Gaze" journal, amplifying voices from minoritized populations. As a member of the CORE Equity team, he championed efforts to enhance cultural perspectives and access within the College.
His research interests are as compelling as his career, focusing on:
- Building equity coalitions that uplift Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) at Predominantly White Institutions
- Challenging whiteness in theatre education
- Advocating for the representation and liberation of BIPOC students in higher education
- Exploring the connections between Black theatre and the Black church
- Employing theatre and theological approaches for activism
- Investigating the performativity of the American Civil Rights Movement
With 23 years of experience as a playwright and theatre educator, alongside 16 years as an ordained minister, Dr. McGilvery has crafted and taught unique theatre courses across diverse environments, including communities, seminaries, universities, K-12 schools, and churches.
His impactful contributions have earned him numerous accolades, including recognition by the NFL during Super Bowl week in 2023 for his advocacy work in education and minoritized communities, he was named a young leader to watch by the Greater Phoenix Urban League for Young Professionals in 2022, and he is the recipient of the prestigious 2019 ASU MLK Student Servant Leadership Award.
Dr. McGilvery is also the co-founder and co-artistic director of Sleeveless Acts, a community-based theatre company dedicated to creating bold, imaginative performances in collaboration with local communities.