Michele Dunleavy is the Penn State Laureate for the 2024-25 academic year.
DuBOIS, Pa. — Penn State DuBois will welcome Michele Dunleavy, professor of dance in the School of Theatre, to campus for a live performance that includes storytelling and the potential for audience participation.
Dunleavy’s performance at Penn State DuBois will be held from 12:15 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. Oct. 23 in the PAW Center Gym. This event is open to the public. To register, contact Amity Rae Sloppy, administrative support assistant, academic affairs, via email.
In April, Dunleavy was named the University Laureate for the 2024-25 academic year. An annual faculty honor established in 2008, the Penn State Laureate is a full-time faculty member in the arts or humanities who is assigned half time for one academic year to bring greater visibility to the arts, humanities and the University, as well as to their own work. In this role, the laureate is a highly visible representative of the University, appearing at events and speaking engagements throughout the commonwealth.
Dunleavy’s work spans tap, jazz and modern dance, with performances and choreography that have captivated audiences from Chicago to New York City and beyond. Her contributions to the art form extend into her pedagogical practices, where she has seamlessly integrated her professional experiences into the classroom, offering students unparalleled opportunities to learn from a working artist at the top of her field.
One of Dunleavy’s hallmark projects, “Steel Valley Rhythms,” explores the intertwining narratives of place, memory, and the physical embodiment of generations of Pennsylvania iron and steelworkers through percussive dance. Her commitment to exploring social themes through dance also is evident in her collaborative efforts with Krista Wilkinson, distinguished professor of communication sciences and disorders in the College of Health and Human Development, with whom she has developed innovative programs that leverage the performing arts to support communication and social skills in individuals with and without disabilities.
