Antioch University proudly announces that Elizabeth Danielle (“Dani”) Belvin, EdD, a 2025 graduate of the EdD in Educational and Professional Practice program, has successfully published their dissertation entitled: Voices of Identity: Exploring Devised Theatre as Social Resistance and Catalyst for Change.
Dr. Belvin’s research explores the power of devised theatre as both an artistic and political practice that uplifts identity, fosters community, and resists dominant cultural narratives. Through a qualitative inquiry grounded in interviews and a podcast-based research methodology, her study centers the experiences of students from historically and currently marginalized backgrounds. The dissertation highlights how devised theatre can affirm identity, build collective agency, and challenge systems of oppression, offering educators innovative pedagogical strategies for inclusive, equity-focused learning environments.
In a powerful departure from traditional academic dissemination, Dr. Belvin employs podcasting to share her research, modeling a more accessible and publicly engaged form of scholarship.
A New Mexican administrator, educator, and theatre artist, Dr. Belvin (she/they) brings a deep commitment to lifelong learning and the transformative power of the arts. She currently serves as Associate Dean in the School of Skilled Trades & Arts at Central New Mexico Community College, where they oversee all of the college’s art programs, including Theatre. With a diverse background that spans early childhood education, nonprofit leadership, global arts practice, and performance in over a dozen Asian theatre and dance traditions, Dr. Belvin’s work reflects an unwavering belief in the power of cultural diversity and creativity to drive social change.
In addition to their EdD from Antioch University, Dr. Belvin holds an MFA in Theatre (Traditional Asian Theatre Performance) from the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, and a BA in Theatre Education and Asian Studies from the University of New Mexico.
Learn more about this impactful work here: https://aura.antioch.edu/etds/1131/
