News

By Jillian Ellis

Lee University theatre alum Derrick Vanmeter was recently appointed assistant professor of costume design at Youngstown State University (YSU) in Ohio.

Vanmeter, originally from Rome, Ga., graduated from Lee in 2010 with a Bachelor of Arts in theatre and children’s ministry and a minor in Spanish. Following his graduation from Lee, Vanmeter earned his Master of Fine Arts in theatre design at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro.

Dr. Christine Williams, professor of theatre at Lee, said, “We are very proud of Derrick and his accomplishments. It has been such a pleasure to watch him grow as a theatre practitioner and educator while following God’s calling for his life.”

As an assistant professor at YSU, Vanmeter interacts with close to 62 majors in the Department of Theatre and Dance. His responsibilities include teaching costume design, costume construction, makeup and a general intro to theatre course that serves as an art elective for the entire university. He is also designing the costumes for YSU’s world premiere of “Tribunal” by Mickey Kessler, a devised piece based on Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, “A Musical Revue” and a dance concert.

“My experiences at Lee set high expectations for how faculty interact with students both in and out of the classroom,” said Vanmeter. “It is my hope that I can carry a little bit of what made Lee so special wherever I go.”