Theatre & Dance welcomes new faculty and staff

Magalí Zaslabsky | 8/25/2025

We are excited to announce several outstanding additions to our department this year. Please join us in giving a warm welcome to the newest members of our team, whose talents and experience will enrich our community and support our continued excellence in theatre education and production.

Jennifer Salter

Jenni Salter is the Theatre and Dance Department’s new assistant professor of costume design. Salter’s areas of expertise are in costume design, wig design and artistry, and costume and textile history. When Salter isn’t teaching, she mentioned “my creative scholarship is designing professionally for regional theatre—most recently Ohio Light Opera.” Her current research focuses on the ideas and concepts of consent in costuming with a focus on educational theatre and designing the costumes for the Department of Theatre and Dance’s fall production of As You Like It, and spring production of Sweeny Todd.

Danielle Curtis

Joining us in the design area is Danielle Curtis, the new associate professor of scenic and lighting with the Department of Theatre and Dance. Curtis shared that she is “excited to design scenic and lighting for the first production this fall, As You Like It, and lighting for the dance concert, Footprints.” Her area of research, aside from theatrical design, is creating a better work/life balance for creative artists using technology—specifically with virtual reality and scenic painting.

Jonathan Pilkington

Jonathan Pilkington is joining as the new voice instructor. “After years of teaching both privately and at the university level, I’m thrilled to be working with Auburn's Musical Theatre majors! My goal as a voice teacher is to help singers find freedom—singing without tension, with honesty, expression, and a reliable technique that will serve them throughout their career,” Pilkington shared.

Sam Heilhecker

Sam Heilhecker is the new director of costume technology for Auburn University’s Department of Theater and Dance. Her job is to manage the costume shop, costume practicums, and student staff. “I am looking forward to mentoring the students through the costume build process of our 25-26 season of shows,” Heilhecker added.

Please join us in welcoming each of these talented individuals to the department. We look forward to the exciting contributions they will make in the coming year. Support their work and get your tickets today for our first show of the 2025-2026 season, As You Like It, opening on September 29^th and running through October 5^th, 2025.

Tags: Theatre and Dance