Professor J. Ellen Gainor wins career achievement award

J. Ellen Gainor, professor and director of undergraduate professor in Cornell’s Department of Performing and Media Arts, has won the Ellen Stewart Award for Career Achievement in Academic Theatre. The Association for Theatre in Higher Education (ATHE) presented the award at a ceremony in Las Vegas on August 3.

The Ellen Stewart Award is one of the highest honors bestowed by ATHE, recognizing a distinguished career in academic theatre. Nominations must demonstrate the candidate’s superlative and innovative contributions to the field, and unwavering commitment to advocacy diversity, and student service.

During the awards presentation, ATHE recognized Dr. Gainor for her prize-winning publications, her editorial leadership on works such as The Norton Anthology of Drama, and her mentorship. “Ellen has been a tireless mentor to scores of members of our profession, graduate students, junior faculty, and colleagues,” said Performing and Media Arts chair and professor Nick Salvato in a statement read during the ceremony. “And, perhaps above all, she always puts others before herself.”

Julian Robison '20 is a communications assistant for the Department of Performing and Media Arts.