Welcome Incoming Board Directors!

USITT is excited to announce that current Board Directors Ashley Bellet and Jeff Baldwin will be taking on new roles as President-Elect and Secretary, respectively, beginning July 1, 2026.

We are also excited to welcome four new faces to the USITT Board of Directors: Lawrence Bennett, Jana Henry Funderburk, Miriam Morgan, and Tina Shackleford! Each of them brings their own mix of experience and passion for the industry. They've been longtime USITT Members, volunteers, and advocates who are now here to provide their expertise and guidance to help shape the future of the Institute.

Take a few minutes to get to know them and hear what drives their commitment to USITT!

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Ashley Bellet

President-Elect

"I have long known USITT as a community filled with incredible, inspiring people. I am deeply honored to have been elected as the next President of an organization that means so much to so many. During my term, I hope every Member comes to realize how valued they are and how essential they are to the future of USITT.

Our USITT Board and Staff have worked diligently to ensure the Institute remains fiscally strong and strategically positioned for growth. The Development Committee has expanded its efforts to help Members understand how they can shape the future of USITT programs. The Education Team, in partnership with our Commissions, continues to expand and elevate programming, creating more opportunities for hands-on learning and active engagement.

At the heart of all of this work is a shared commitment to mentoring and supporting Members. My role is to help facilitate and celebrate those connections. I want to know our Membership. I want to work alongside you, learn from you, and hear your voices.

Together, we will build on USITT’s legacy — and ensure that every Member has a place in shaping its future."

About Ashley:

Ashley Bellet [she/her] is the Assistant Professor of Costume Design at Purdue University and a professional costume designer and costume crafts artisan. She received her PhD in Interdisciplinary Theatre Studies from UW Madison, her MFA in Theatre Design from the University of Memphis, and BAs in Theatre and English from Sewanee. Ashley has served as the Secretary of the Board, the Vice President for Commissions, and the Associate Editor for Education for the journal Theatre Design & Technology (TD&T), and presents regularly at international and national conferences such as ASTR, ATHE, Critical Costume, PSi, CSA, ATCA, and IFTR. She is a coordinating member of the United States design team for the 2027 Prague Quadrennial, and has worked professionally at The Santa Fe Opera, The Houston Shakespeare Festival, The Utah Festival Opera and Music Theatre, American Players Theatre, Theatre Memphis, Playhouse on the Square, Oklahoma Repertory Theatre, and American Lives Theatre, among others. She has won regional awards for her costume designs for opera and musical theatre, has a chapter published in the book Theatre Artisans and Their Craft: The Allied Arts, and is the editor of the book Refashioning Pedagogies: New Approaches to Decolonizing Fashion History and Period Styles. Ashley is working on a new book (or two) and makes time to travel to see the world and meet new people whenever she can.

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Jeff Baldwin

Secretary

"I’m excited and honored to step into the role of Secretary for USITT. This organization has played an important role in my professional growth, and I’ve always valued the sense of community, collaboration, and shared knowledge that USITT fosters across our industry. I look forward to supporting the continued work of the organization, strengthening communication and engagement among our Membership, and helping serve the incredible students, educators, and professionals that make this community so impactful."

About Jeff:

Jeff Baldwin is an Assistant Professor and Head of the MFA Theatre Technology program at Indiana  University. A U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Jeff holds an MFA in Theatre Technology from IU and a  B.S.Ed. in Speech and Theatre Education from Missouri State University. With over 15 years of  experience in theatrical production and stage technology, Jeff brings extensive professional  expertise to the classroom and production environment, emphasizing safety, collaboration, and  industry best practices. 

He has served as Technical Director for Tent Theatre, Indiana Festival Theatre, and The Lyceum  Theatre, and has provided automation programming and consultation for regional theatres  including Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Gulfshore Playhouse, and the Musical Arts Center. Jeff  currently serves on the USITT Board of Directors and as Chair of the Research and Creative  Endeavors Committee. He is also a certified MEWP Train-the-Trainer. 

His leadership style — shaped by his military service — emphasizes discipline, strategic thinking, safety, and team development, qualities he brings to both the classroom and the stage.

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Lawrence Bennett

Director

"I am excited to join the Board and continue to help make USITT a place for everyone to thrive!"

About Lawrence:

Lawrence Bennett is a Houston native and currently serves as the Director of Production at the Alliance Theatre, where he works closely with the theatre’s leadership to balance artistic quality, personnel, budget, and schedule. Before joining the Alliance, he held the same position at the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, collaborating with Hana Sharif, the first Black woman to serve as Artistic Director of a LORT theatre. He previously served as Associate Production Manager at Baltimore Center Stage.

Before transitioning into production management, Lawrence spent a decade as a technical director at institutions such as the University of Texas, the University of South Florida, and the University of Wisconsin–River Falls. He also honed his craft at nationally recognized summer festivals including Williamstown Theatre Festival, Utah Shakespeare Festival, and Opera Theatre of Saint Louis.

Nationally, Lawrence is active in professional service and advocacy. He is commissioner of the Management Commission and a Member of the IDEAS Committee for USITT (United States Institute for Theatre Technology). He also co-chairs the IDEAS and Membership Committees for the Production Managers Forum, a network of production leaders across theatre, dance, opera, and educational institutions throughout North America.

Lawrence earned his MFA from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and his BFA from the Sargent Conservatory at Webster University. He and his partner, Dominica, are proud parents of two boys, Henry and Cameron. In his free time, Lawrence enjoys football, basketball, bourbon and whiskey, karaoke, and time spent with his wife and children.

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Jana Henry Funderburk

Director

"I am excited to join the USITT Board of Directors and learn more about the governance side of the Institute. USITT has been a valuable part of my career, and I am looking forward to serving in this new capacity."

About Jana:

Jana Henry Funderburk is Professor and Coordinator of Design & Production at Millikin University and a costume designer/maker with more than 30 years of professional experience spanning theatre, dance, television, and film. She holds a B.A. from William Jewell College and an M.F.A. from the University of Missouri–Kansas City. Her work ranges from large-scale LORT theatre productions to innovative community theatre projects, demonstrating her versatility across artistic contexts and production budgets. Jana currently serves as Commissioner of the Costume Commission for USITT and sits on the Board of the Midwest Section. As Commissioner, she has spearheaded Summer Symposia, revitalized key commission initiatives, and implemented new structural frameworks as required by the board. Her previous leadership roles with USITT include Vice Commissioner of Programming, contributor to eSET, coordinator of Tech Olympics prizes, and liaison between the Costume Commission and the Tech Olympics. She has presented for four commissions, Poster Sessions, and currently hosts the Midwest Section webinar Pieces of the Puzzle.  Jana’s scholarship and creative research focus on textile history and the integration of emerging technologies into costume design and production. She is an active member of the American Theatrical Costume Association (ATCA), the Costume Society of America (CSA), and the Dress & Body Association. An enthusiastic and innovative educator, Jana teaches courses in Costume Design and Technology, Fast Fashion, and travel-based learning experiences. She has taught in six countries and at Walt Disney World, bringing a global and industry-informed perspective to her students and her work.

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Miriam Morgan

Director

"I’m honored to join the USITT Board of Directors and to help advance the mission and vision of an organization that has been central to my professional journey. With experience in technical production, venue operations, and nonprofit administration, and many years of Conference attendance and Membership, I look forward to contributing my perspective to the board’s strategic work, and to help champion initiatives that support education, innovation, opportunities for emerging professionals, equity, and the evolving needs of our Membership."

About Miriam:

Miriam Morgan is the VP of Operations & COO for Arts United, a local arts agency in Fort Wayne, Indiana, strategically leading the operation of four facilities and venues. A long time conference attendee and Member of USITT, she has three decades of experience in various venues as an arts administrator, technical director, lighting designer, and technician, and has guided the construction of a black box theatre, the renovation of a historic theatre, strategic and master planning processes for venues, and the cultural district. She leads a multidisciplinary team spanning entertainment production, event planning, and facility management while overseeing major capital projects, including leading the $42 million modernization of the Arts United Center, which reopened in late 2025, adapting a facility constructed before the ADA into a modernized, technologically forward-thinking, Universally Designed project. For this work, Miriam was awarded the inaugural AWS Foundation Dart Pin award for individuals who go above and beyond to incorporate Universal Design into their work in NE Indiana. Additionally, she has more than 15 years of experience planning and executing a large arts and culture festival with attendance up to 30,000 and holds memberships in national theatre, venue, and technical production organizations including USITT where she has lectured on venue management, historic preservation, capital project management, accessibility in the arts, entertainment technology, and guest experience. She currently serves on the Events Committee of the Women’s Fund of Greater Fort Wayne, and the artist selection committee for the Fort Wayne Public Art Commission.

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Tina Shackleford

Director

“I am happy to join the USITT Board of Directors. USITT has been such an important part of my professional life, and the activities and relationships I have found have made a huge impact on me. I continually look for opportunities to give back to the Institute, and being part of the Board is one of them. I hope to be able to collaborate towards the growth of the institute and to support and represent the general Membership, to allow each person to work to their fullest capacity.”

About Tina:

Tina Shackleford is a long-time professional stage manager and educator. Her credits include productions at theatres across the country, with a focus on new works and musicals. Tina is Teaching Professor of Stage Management at the Carnegie Mellon School of Drama, leading its BFA and MFA programs in Stage and Production Management, and previously taught at the University of Iowa and the University of Texas at Austin. She is a former Board member and Regional Chair for the SMA. For USITT she is the Coordinator of EDI Programming and one of the founders of the Gateway Program and has chaired two Affinity Groups. Additionally, she is a former Management Commissioner, was a longtime Mentor and Coordinator for the SMMP, and served on various other Institute Committees. Tina holds an MFA from the University of California-San Diego and is a proud member of Actors Equity Association.

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