Michael Barnett is Assistant Professor of Lighting Design in the Theatre Arts Department where he heads the BFA Lighting Design Program. Mr. Barnett received his Master of Fine Arts in Lighting Design from Florida State University in 2003. Previously, Michael served as Assistant Professor of Theatre for three years at Tennessee State University. He has designed shows for Tennessee Repertory Theatre, the Tennessee Shakespeare Festival, the Clarence Brown Theatre, Seaside Music Theatre, Theatre Southeast and the original production KILLING LINCOLN with the Wordplayers at the Terragon Theatre in Toronto. Additionally, Mr. Barnett has designed numerous shows at the University of Tennessee, Florida State University, Tennessee State University and The University of Mississippi. Michael is a 2008 Faculty Research fellow at The University of Mississippi where he will be examining the differences in Lighting Design Approaches between the United States and Europe. Mr. Barnett is a member of the Southeastern Theatre Conference and the United States Institute for Theatre Technology.