Sydney Cheek-O’Donnell is an Associate Professor in the Department of Theatre and the Associate Dean for Research in the College of Fine Arts. Her long-time interest in political theatre, social justice, and feminism have led her on a circuitous journey from a dissertation on the Italian theatre artist and activist Franca Rame to the application of theatre in non-traditional spaces and with marginalized communities. Current projects include the development of a rehearsal-based approach to improving communication skills of medical learners, an applied theatre intervention to improve self-efficacy among refugee youth and previously incarcerated adults. She has a passion for interdisciplinary work and loves helping other researchers find and develop productive partnerships that will serve the public good.