Chair, Fine and Performing Arts Chair and Drama Program
Years at UST: 22

Professor Claire McDonald’s life has always revolved around theatre. Her passion started in elementary school when she and her sister staged Christmas plays for the neighborhood in their family’s living room. She brought that passion to UST 22 years ago where it has thrived ever since.

“What continues to fascinate me is that creating theatre is all about creative problem solving. The challenge and the fun never die,” says Professor McDonald, who has served as chair of the Fine and Performing Arts Department at UST for the past 12 years. “I enjoy laughing, learning, and swapping stories with my students.”

In her position, Professor McDonald heads up a complex multi program—art history, drama, music, and studio arts—which allows her to positively influence a significant number of UST students. In addition, she has sponsored student clubs, chaired university committees, and been actively involved in student recruitment efforts.

She has witnessed students emerging as leaders, particularly through their extracurricular production work in theatrical productions. “The extraordinary number of hours students must commit (typically 100 over a six-week period) and the discipline they must demonstrate to successfully be part of a production helps them hone their leadership skills,” she says. “The confidence gained from appearing multiple times before a public audience cannot be denied—and students who exude confidence are often selected as leaders by their peers.”

Students involved in productions at UST could hardly be more engaged, she says. Many students become involved in four productions annually in addition to their studies, jobs, and family commitments. “This tremendous exposure to the practical side of the arts enhances many aspects of the students’ experience at UST and beyond,” says Professor McDonald.

The most visible public service of the UST drama program comes through annual productions, she says, particularly UST’s yearly production for local school children which she directs and supervises. Each November, thousands of inner city elementary students come by bus to Jones Theatre on campus, and many see the first stage play of their young lives. She also creates a teacher’s guide to the children’s productions so teachers can extend the theatre experience in their classrooms. UST drama students also visit local elementary schools to conduct dramatic activities with children.

“We have introduced a wide and diverse group of Houstonians to the magic of theatre. We have helped entertain, inspire, and educate our audiences,” says
Professor McDonald. “My big dream is to have a part in inspiring engaged, productive, compassionate, and creative global citizens around the world. I have achieved this through our fine and performing arts graduates time and again.”

In addition to her production work with students, Professor McDonald also regularly supervises undergraduate research projects, which UST requires of graduating seniors in drama. The department also supports students in finding summer theatre internships. For the summer of 2006, drama major, LeDarrin Johnson, was chosen for the Texas Non-profit Theatre Group’s paid multicultural theatre internship in Fort Worth, Texas, and studio arts major, Nam Nguyen, was chosen for a prestigious and very competitive internship at The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.

The fine and performing arts programs at UST blend in well with the University’s goal of educating leaders of faith and character, says Professor McDonald. “The key to UST students emerging as leaders is grounded in the excellence and scope of our core curriculum. This course work guides them to become critical thinkers, problem solvers, clear writers, excellent communicators, and ethical persons. Each one of these skills is a hallmark of a leader,” she says.

In addition, the scope and depth of the courses offer students the intense one-on-one training and individual attention of a small conservatory type program within all the value-added benefits of the liberal arts curriculum, she says. Students are prepared to meet all future challenges.