Carol Wolfe Clay, MFA
Carol Wolfe Clay CV (PDF)
Teaching and Research Interests
Classes: Scenic Design, Lighting Design, Puppetry, Performance/Production Practicum
Biography
Professor Clay received her M.F.A. in dramatic art – design from the University of California at Davis and her B.A. in interior design from the California State University at Fresno. She began teaching, designing scenery & lights and production managing at Seattle University in 1986. Since that time, she has designed over 50 productions at SU. Clay chaired the department of Fine Arts at Seattle University for 13 years and 2017 will mark her 30th year as a professor of theatre at Seattle University.
As an arts administrator, Clay was chair of the department of fine arts from 1996-2009, a period of tremendous growth that included a tripling of student majors; 10 new tenure-track faculty, 2 new professional staff & numerous part and full-time faculty; new degree programs in art history, interdisciplinary arts, digital design, photography, music and the MFA in arts leadership; new studios, practice rooms and classrooms for visual art, design and music; the Hedreen and Vachon art galleries; and the building of the theatre, the Lee Center for the Arts.
As a scenic designer, Clay’s work was seen in 2017 at The 5th Avenue Theatre, Pajama Game, and Seattle Children's Theatre, Into the West. Clay has also designed for Seattle Shakespeare Company (footlight award for Cymbeline), upstart crow collective, Book It Repertory Theatre, Strawberry Theatre Workshop, New City Theatre and The Empty Space Theatre. Clay received, along with her long-time collaborator Ki Gottberg, a 2012 Seattle CityArtist award for little world. Clay is a union member of United Scenic Artists Local USA 829, the United States Institute for Theatre Technology, and the Puppeteers of America.
Carol Wolfe Clay, MFA
Professor of Theatre
Director of Graduate Practicums, MFA in Arts Leadership