Who am I
Dustin, from Deer Park, Al is a graduate of the University of West Alabama. He was a History teacher for a short time and then returned to UWA as a Media Technician.
He is a general theatre technician that loves to build and design sets, props, lights, and sound.
Dustin’s interest in carpentry began as a child working with his grandfather in his shop and around the farm. Throughout childhood, he built furniture and paint signs for family and friends. During high school and college, Dustin designed and built props or flags for the marching band programs.
After completing his undergraduate degree, he worked as a Media Technician at the University of West Alabama and began working with theatre and teaching broadcast journalism. He quickly started building and designing sets and lighting plots for both production areas.
After becoming a Technical Director, he discovered there was a lot more to theatre than just being able to build, so he started a new education career and enrolled as a graduate student at the University of Alabama in the Department of Theatre and Dance. Dustin has been able to expand his knowledge and polish the skills in which he already excelled.
Dustin taught the Broadcast Journalism Practicum coarse at UWA for nearly 10 years. During graduate school he taught TH 120 Principles of Stage Design and taught the lab for TH 220 Stage Craft.
He was awarded the John Ross Technical Theatre Award and Scholarship in 2024. Dustin has also been awarded the Faculty Staff Loyalty Award by the National Alumni Association and the McIlwain Bell Support Staff Excellence Award by the Board of Trustees at the University of West Alabama.
A former chapter president and faculty advisor of the Alpha Delta Pi chapter of Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity at the University of West Alabama.
Dustin earned his Bachelor of Science degree in History and Social Science from the University of West Alabama. He began his graduate work at the University of Mississippi for Women in Theatre Education, but transferred to the University of Alabama to pursue the Master’s in Fine Arts in Theatre.
My Approach to design and teaching
I let the script and my imagination lead me to the end product. Simple ideas can lead to the largest and most impactful final products. But I also listen to my director and try to give them the elements they need to help tell the story,
When working with students, I always try to teach to their personal level in the classroom, shop, or tech booth. I take what they know and understand, and expand upon that knowledge while building up their confidence.
