In a recent ceremony in San Diego, Professor Kaja Dunn was honored by Playwrights Project with their 2023 Deborah Salzer Excellence in Arts Education Award. The award was created in honor of Playwrights Project founder Deborah Salzer and is given each year to an exemplary arts educator. Playwrights Project’s mission is to empower people of all ages and backgrounds to voice stories through theater. Saltzer founded the organization in 1985 and enlisted renowned playwright Edward Albee as Artistic Advisor for 20 years.

“We have to begin the creative education of young people very, very young, far younger than most people think and that’s why an organization such as this one is so terribly important,” said Albee.

Professor Dunn joined Carnegie Mellon University School of Drama in 2022 in a first of its kind, full-time tenure-track position teaching Anti-Racist and Culturally Competent Practice in Theater. Dunn works professionally as an intimacy and diversity consultant, as well as an actor, director, and activist. She has a chapter in the recently released book “Intimacy Directing for Theatre” titled “You Can’t Colorblind Choreograph: The Importance of Cultural Competency in Intimacy Practice.”

Learn More About Kaja Dunn