Deirdre Yates, M.F.A

Professor of Theatre
College of Human Development Culture and Media

Professor Deirdre Yates began her time at Seton Hall University as a faculty member in 1992. In the following years, she attained the rank of full Professor, became the first female Chair of what was once the Department of Communication and the Arts, and served as the Founding Dean of the College of Communication and the Arts from 2015-2021.

Professor Yates is a classically trained actor and director, who studied at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts, as well as The Catholic University of America. A long-standing and highly respected member of our academic community, she has received numerous awards, grants, and distinctions for her work in the arts, including two Inland Theatre League awards, a Gilbert V. Hartke award, and Lilly Grant funding to support the exploration of faith through the arts. In addition, Professor Yates has been honored by the University on several occasions, having been a recipient of the University Humanitarian Award and having been chosen Woman of the Year in 2014.

Professor Yates remains a very prominent member of the arts community. She has toured the country performing Shakespeare and appearing at regional theatres, has directed in NYC and at numerous local and regional productions, and has presented at several national conferences, primarily on the subject of women in the arts and academia. Currently, Professor Yates is a member of the Equity company The Yates Musical Theatre for Children, and serves on the Board of Directors for the Celtic Theatre Company, the Board of Governors for the South Orange Performing Arts Center, and the Advisory Board for WSOU, Seton Hall's very own award-winning student-run radio station.