Holly E. McDonald is an Assistant Lecturer and Teaching Artist. She holds a BFA from West Virginia University and an MFA in Acting/Performance from the University of Alabama. Holly began her career in Washington, D.C. where she worked successfully as an Actor - Arts Educator.

Holly is currently a theatre faculty member in UCF’s School of Performing Arts where she teaches at both the graduate and undergraduate levels, as well as a Women’s and Gender Studies Faculty Affiliate. Holly has developed and instructed a wide range of courses from intermediate acting to text analysis and recently a new course for UCF’s Honors College, Enhancing Your Career with Lessons from the Stage.

A trailblazer in course design and instruction Holly continues to develop and instruct theatre courses across multiple formats—including face-to-face, web-based, mixed-mode, and livestream environments to enhance accessibility for a broad range of learners, supporting national and international students. 

Holly’s leadership and innovation have led to numerous “firsts” within the UCF community. She was the first faculty member to develop and instruct a fully web-based theatre course and to create content for an interactive digital textbook in which she was recognized by the publisher as Author of the Month. She also pioneered courses in Queer Theatre, Theatre for Social Change/Engagement, and Women in Theatre creating vital curricular space for a broader range of perspectives and stories.

Holly’s commitment to community engagement is further evidenced by her contributions to initiatives such as the Florida Prison Education Project for which she developed and instructed the first web-based theatre survey course for incarcerated learners and the Veterans Legacy Program where she developed community-centered programming for veterans and K–12 students. She also played a foundational role in shaping broader institutional initiatives including the original development of UCF’s General Education Program, and a founding contributor that launched the BA track in Socially Engaged Theatre.

Inspired by Paulo Freire’s words, “Whoever teaches learns in the act of teaching, and whoever learns teaches in the act of learning” she strives to create dynamic exchanges between teacher and student, a reciprocal process in which growth, discovery, and transformation occur. Every student brings a unique perspective, and Holly remains committed to fostering and cultivating individual narratives in honoring unique and evolving communities to embrace the next generation of theatre artists. 

Website: https://www.hollyemcdonald.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/holly-e-mcdonald-919a5129/