Joseph Price Appointed Dean Of The Conservatory For Performing Arts At Stephens College

Stephens College has announced the appointment of Joseph Price as Dean of the Conservatory for the Performing Arts, effective July 6, 2026.

Price brings more than twenty-five years of senior leadership experience in higher education and professional performing arts organizations, and over three decades as a director, producer, educator, and administrator. Price is deeply committed to student-centered training, faculty collaboration, and nationally visible artistic programming.

"What drew us to Joseph Price is his deep understanding that trust and belonging aren't separate from artistic excellence, they're the foundation of it," said President Shannon B. Lundeen. "His experience creating environments where every person feels capable of more than they imagined aligns beautifully with Stephens' commitment to our students. Joe will lead our Conservatory with the kind of courage, transparency, and care for people that this moment demands."

"I'm honored and energized to join Stephens College at this moment," said Price. "With its rich and pioneering history in higher education, Stephens has long been a place where creativity and opportunity intersect. I'm especially excited to collaborate with such talented faculty and to get to know the students-their voices, their ambitions, and their potential. Together, we have an incredible opportunity to build on Stephens' legacy and shape the next generation of artists."

Joseph Price recently served as Executive Director of Interact Center for the Visual and Performing Arts in Minnesota. He previously held academic leadership roles as Department Head of Theatre and Dance and Producer of Tent Theatre at Missouri State University, and as Program Director for the University of Minnesota/Guthrie Theater BFA Actor Training Program. He spent 11 years at the University of Missouri-Kansas City/Kansas City Repertory Theatre, where he served as Associate Head of MFA Acting.

A founding member of Chicago's A Red Orchid Theatre, Price has directed extensively in regional and academic settings. His professional directing credits include Clybourne Park, Xanadu, The 39 Steps, The Lieutenant of Inishmore, Well, Painted Alice, Bright Ideas, Blue/Orange, Fuddy Meers, The Shape of Things, The Pillowman, and the world premiere of James Still's The Velvet Rut. Additional directing work includes The Cripple of Inishmaan (Kansas City Actors Theatre), A Steady Rain (Riverside Theatre), and the world premiere of Wild Boy: The Musical, with a book by Sesame Street head writer Lou Berger.

His academic directing credits include The American Clock, Uncle Vanya, A Bright New Boise, Enron, Anything Goes, Present Laughter, Boesman and Lena, Tape, The Importance of Being Earnest, Polaroid Stories, Mad Forest, and Killer Joe. He also collaborated with Carl Wilkens to develop a stage adaptation of I'm Not Leaving, chronicling Wilkens' experience during the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

Price oversaw interdepartmental planning for the construction and opening of the John Goodman Amphitheatre at Missouri State, integrating academic programming and professional production operations to ensure a seamless launch-experience that speaks directly to complex facilities management, production oversight, and institutional collaboration.

As an actor, Price has appeared in numerous regional theatre productions, commercials, and the CBS series Dangerous Curves. Early in his career, he starred as "Choo Choo the Clown" in the Preschool Express video series. He holds an MFA from Southern Methodist University.

Price succeeds Lisa Brescia, who has served as Interim Dean since April 2025. Brescia, a Broadway veteran with starring roles in Dear Evan Hansen, Wicked, Mamma Mia!, and Aida, will continue her role as Director, Associate Professor and Chair of Performance at the Conservatory.

"I am absolutely thrilled to welcome Joe Price as the new Dean of the Conservatory for the Performing Arts at Stephens College," said Brescia. "Joe is a thoughtful and dynamic leader who brings a deep commitment to fostering respectful collaboration, nurturing artistic growth, and preparing students for meaningful, sustainable careers in the performing arts. His leadership is grounded in both integrity and innovation, and he has a remarkable ability to build strong, kind communities within academic and artistic settings. I am especially excited for our students, faculty, and staff, who will benefit from Joseph's experience, insight, and forward-thinking approach. I cannot wait to work alongside him as the Conservatory continues to grow and thrive under his leadership."

Under Price's leadership, the Conservatory will continue its mission of providing immersive, professional-level training that blends the intensity of conservatory study with a strong liberal arts foundation. The program is distinguished by its accomplished faculty of working professionals whose credits span Broadway, television, and film, and offers robust training in performance, technical theatre, and filmmaking.

Reflecting on his recent experience at Interact, Price shared, "What has stayed with me most from leading Interact is how profoundly the artists, all of them living with disabilities, transformed me. Working alongside adults with disabilities reshaped how I understand creativity, communication, and leadership itself. Their honesty, vulnerability, humor, and fearless expression challenged my assumptions and pushed me to listen more deeply and lead with greater humility. As I step into my role at Stephens, I carry that with me-a commitment to creating space for every voice, to meeting people where they are, and to building an environment where individuals feel seen, valued, and capable of more than they-or others-might expect."