“It is so rewarding to watch my students take creative risks and challenge themselves,” says Assistant Professor of Performance and Communication Arts Ann Marie Gardinier Halstead. “It is such a joy to witness their growth as students, as artists, and as human beings.”

For as long as Ann Marie can remember, she has wanted to be a teacher.  The popular professor is devoted to cultivating meaningful relationships with her students, whom she characterizes as “bright, creative and enthusiastic.”  Her extensive background in the performing arts includes directing professional productions and reviving a community college theatre program in Cheyenne, Wyo.  Eager to fuse her passion for the performing arts with teaching at the collegiate level, she earned her Master of Fine Arts degree from Virginia Commonwealth University after obtaining her bachelor’s degree at Le Moyne College.

At St. Lawrence, she has designed many dynamic courses.  She teaches Beginning Acting, Characterization, Acting Styles, Directing, and a community-based learning course called Children’s Theatre in the Schools. She has also directed The Vagina Monologues, The Importance of Being Earnest and Spinning Into Butter. 

Although her predominant focus is fostering an inspiring environment in which her students can excel, Ann Marie has numerous other pursuits. This summer she will travel to Scotland to attend the Fringe Festival, with the intent of eventually taking her advanced students to this exciting event.  She chairs the Committee on Gender Equity and Sexuality and helped plan a series of faculty workshops on teaching introductory courses.  Additionally, she will be the faculty advisor of the Artists’ Guild theme house in the fall. 

“My students inspire me to be a better artist and a better teacher,” she says. “I also enjoy collaborating with my St. Lawrence colleagues in both the arts and other disciplines.  Moreover, I appreciate the university’s dedication to teaching and faculty development.”