Brant Murray (he/him/his)
Teaching Assistant Professor and Chair of Lighting Design and Technology, Department of Theatre, College of Fine and Applied Arts
Murray’s research interests include developing stronger servant leadership in the arts by focusing on emotional intelligence development for a sustainable future. This research will concentrate on developing stronger student, faculty, and staff servant leaders by exploring the five attributes of emotional intelligence (EQ), the nine areas of cognitive skills, and how these attributes and skills may be strengthened to increase a person’s EQ. As a Level 1 Mental Health Ambassador, Murray is concentrating on student wellness and mental health during the ongoing pandemic. He recently co-authored “Placing Emotional Intelligence Development Center Stage: A centralized and coherent focus on emotional intelligence during the production process can build a more sustainable future and ensure stronger future leaders.” This article was presented in the Winter 2023 issue of Theatre Design & Technology magazine, published by USITT (United States Institute of Theatre Technology).
As a lighting designer, Murray recently created the lighting design adaptation for Steps in the Street (excerpt from Chronicle), originally choreographed by Martha Graham in 1936, with original lighting design by Jean Rosenthal. In collaboration with the Martha Graham Dance Company, and regisseurs Miki Orihara and Elizabeth Auclair, these performances were seen as part of October Dance 2023, produced by Dance at Illinois. Previously he was the lighting designer for Joy of Regathering, a collaboration with the Beckman Institute, the Departments of Theatre, Chemistry, Dance, Physics, and the School of Music, which began the Fall 2022 semester.
Brant received his MFA in Lighting Design from the Carnegie Mellon School of Drama and his BS in Architecture (Drama Minor) from the University of Virginia School of Architecture.