2020 Retiring Faculty

Edward Kahn

Professor of Theatre
(2004-2020)

Professor Kahn—educator, scholar, artist, activist—has left an indelible mark during the 16 years he served the Ohio Wesleyan community. Simply “Ed” to all, his quiet but cheerful demeanor belies a deep compassion for the arts, justice, diversity, and learning.

Raised in Pennsylvania, Ed started his adult life working as a materials engineer, aligning with his drive to understand and improve how things work, which permeates his approach to the world.

When listing degrees, Edward Kahn has as many letters after his name as in it. At Lehigh University, he earned a B.S. in engineering and a B.A. in theatre. After the brief sojourn in engineering, he added an MFA in directing at Northwestern University and a Ph.D. in drama from Tufts University. Ed’s early teaching career included appointments at Lehigh, Tufts, and Boston College. He directed productions in five other states before joining the OWU faculty in 2004.

A versatile artist and scholar, Ed’s primary expertise at OWU has been directing, but he also taught acting, theory, theatre history, and political theatre. Ed was instrumental in providing pivotal experiences for students, with artist residencies, theatre excursions, and interdisciplinary endeavors. He directed a production every year, characteristically pushing the boundaries of all types of performance, from classical to cutting edge. He shepherded enthusiastic recruits through meaningful honors projects, independent studies, and senior capstone projects. Many went on to work with important organizations such as The Public Theatre, The Guthrie, Ford’s Theatre, and Hartford Stage.

In recognition of Ed’s comprehensive teaching strategy, he was awarded the Libuse L. Reed Endowed Professorship in 2011, a distinction that honors academic rigor, building a foundation for intellectual outreach, and accessibility. Ed’s astute guidance was imbued with fairness and often a playful sense of humor. He launched many students into competitive graduate programs, including Berkley, Tufts, NYU, and University of Cape Town.

Maintaining his quest for discovering how things work, Ed investigated new methods or disciplines including studies in Asian theatre, the Meisner Training Program, and film studies at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Other efforts included conference presentations for the Association for Theatre in Higher Education and American Society for Theatre Research, and publications in Japan Studies Association Journal and Theatre Journal. During his years at OWU, Ed received 16 grants in support of his artistic and scholarly work.

Ed’s service to the University has been significant outside the classroom as well. Sought for his insight on issues of tolerance and social justice, Ed was appointed to the President’s Commission on Racial and Cultural Diversity, served as a Sexual Harassment Advisor, and annually spearheaded an orientation performance for sexual assault prevention. In addition, Ed served as department chair, was a member of the Accreditation Team, the Performing Arts Series, Modern Life interdisciplinary seminar, and was advisor to multiple student groups. The faculty elected him to serve on University Governance Committee, Trustee-Faculty Liaison Committee, and seven years on the Academic Policy Committee.

As a teacher, director, administrator, advisor, and colleague, Ed inspires community wherever he goes, bringing the best out of every stakeholder. With characteristic modesty, Ed shuns adulation, deriving the most pleasure from seeing those around him succeed. Ed’s greatest tribute will certainly be the enduring gratitude from years of students who thrived in his sphere.