Dr. Detra Payne

Assistant Professor

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Biography

Detra Payne is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Theatre at Northwestern University, focusing on acting and performance. She teaches the sophomore-junior acting sequence and courses in devising and acting for the screen. Before joining Northwestern, she was an Assistant Professor at the University of Texas at Arlington, where she coordinated productions and taught cross-disciplinary courses in Women’s and Gender Studies. Payne has a rich background in acting, having performed in various major cities including New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago, and has worked with notable Chicago theatres. Her training includes an MFA from the New School Drama and extensive experience with the Meisner and Suzuki techniques. Additionally, she has co-directed productions and developed initiatives related to community engagement through the arts. Payne has published works in Theatre Journal and Studies in Theatre and Performance. She is actively involved in committees promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within the academic sphere and serves on boards related to theatre education and women's studies.

Research Interests

Requirements for Northwestern University

Doctorate Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3
TOEFL
Total
Required:90
IELTS
Overall
Required:7
Prerequisites
U.S. Bachelor's degree or equivalent
Application Checklist
  • Online application
  • Transcripts
  • Letters of recommendation
  • Statement of purpose
  • Resume/CV
  • TOEFL/IELTS scores (if applicable)
Specialization Notes

Standard PhD requirements for TGS departments including Chemistry, Physics, and Sociology.