About the Department of Theatre & Film

Joe Turner Cantú
Professor Emeritus of Theatre Arts
Cantú is an accomplished actor trainer, director, and playwright who serves as head of the acting area at the University of Mississippi, where he teaches acting, directing, and playwriting with a focus on acting process, styles, and voice. With a career spanning decades, he has directed numerous productions nationally and internationally, led several theater festivals, written award-winning plays, published a book on actor training, and received the Cora Lee Graham Award for Outstanding Teaching of Freshmen.

Dex Edwards
Associate Professor Emeritus of Scenic Design
Edwards, who holds an M.F.A. in Directing from the University of Mississippi, spent over 15 years designing and directing for major theatres across the U.S. and internationally, earning awards such as the Critics Choice, Jefferson, and Boston Critic’s Circle Awards for his innovative scenic designs. His career includes serving as resident designer at Atlanta’s Alliance Theatre, consulting for events like the 1996 Olympic Centennial Park and 1994 World Cup Opening Ceremonies, and contributing acclaimed work to venues from the Berlin Opera House to Las Vegas stages.

Rhona Justice-Malloy
Professor Emerita of History & Literature
Justice-Malloy is a distinguished scholar, honored as a Fellow of the College of Fellows of the American Theatre, the Mid-America Theatre Conference, and the Sarah Isom Center for Women and Gender Studies. She has served in leadership roles such as President of the Mid-America Theatre Conference and editor of Theatre History Studies, published widely in theatre scholarship, and is an active member of organizations including the National Theatre Conference, the League of Professional Theatre Women, and Actors Equity.

Jennifer Mizenko
Professor Emerita of Movement & Dance
Mizenko ran the dance and movement programs at the University of Mississippi for over three decades, teaching courses like jazz, modern technique, and movement for actors. Certified in the Alexander Technique and Laban Movement Analysis, she has taught internationally, choreographed award-winning works, and co-authored The Laban Workbook for Actors: A Practical Guide with Video, combining her expertise in movement, psychology, and performance.

René Pulliam
Associate Professor Emerita of Theatre Arts
Since 1993, Pulliam has headed the B.F.A. program in Musical Theatre at the University of Mississippi, having directed and choreographed hundreds of musicals across the U.S., including West Coast premieres of Smile, Closer than Ever, and Over Here. With a B.A. in Music and an M.F.A. in Dance/Choreography, she has received the San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Award, performed on television and in touring companies, and is a published researcher and Associate Teacher of Fitzmaurice Voice Work.