David Beach, Ph.D., serves as Assistant Director for the Humanities Program at the
Summer Residential Governor鈥檚 School for the Visual and Performing Arts and Humanities.
He is a Professor of English and Theatre at 91制片厂, where he teaches playwriting,
screenwriting, composition and rhetoric, dramatic literature, and literary scholarship,
and serves as Director of Undergraduate Curriculum. Beach is an award-winning playwright,
director, dramaturg, and educator whose work explores storytelling, ethics, identity,
place, and civic responsibility through the arts and humanities.
At 91制片厂, Beach is deeply engaged in interdisciplinary teaching and academic leadership.
He directs initiatives connected to general education reform, place-based learning,
and civic engagement, and regularly collaborates with faculty across disciplines to
design courses that integrate creative inquiry with real-world problem solving. His
classes emphasize revision, collaboration, and intellectual risk-taking, helping students
connect artistic practice to larger social and ethical questions. He also mentors
undergraduate and graduate students in creative writing, theatre, and interdisciplinary
research.
Beyond the classroom, Beach maintains an active national profile as a playwright,
dramaturg, and theatre director. His work has been developed and presented at universities,
festivals, and professional conferences across the country, including collaborations
with the American College Theatre Festival, where he serves as Chair of the National
Playwriting Program for Region IV, and the Southeastern Theatre Conference, where
he serves as Vice Chair of Playwriting. His plays frequently engage themes of leadership,
community, global politics, and human connection, reflecting his commitment to the
humanities as a public and civic practice.
Beach is an experienced mentor and program leader, supervising independent studies
and student-led creative initiatives. He regularly presents workshops on creative
pedagogy, ethical storytelling, the use of AI in higher education, and the role of
humanities in addressing contemporary challenges. His dedication to student growth,
artistic rigor, and inclusive learning environments shapes his approach to leadership
at the Governor鈥檚 School.
Beach holds a Ph.D. in Instructional Technology and Composition and Rhetoric from
George Mason University, an M.F.A. in Playwriting from Hollins University, and degrees
in English and Linguistics. His passion for teaching, mentorship, and creative inquiry
drives his commitment to supporting talented high school students as they develop
their voices as thinkers, artists, and engaged citizens.