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Bobbi Owen Michael R. McVaugh Distinguished Professor of Dramatic Art and Senior Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education, College of Arts and Sciences, at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Senior Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education

Undergraduate Education is comprised of a range of academic programs, scholarships, and services for undergraduate students. Among them are the Academic Advising Program, the Honors Program and the Johnston Center for Undergraduate Excellence, First Year Seminars, Retention Office, The Center for Student Success and Academic Counseling, Robertson Scholars Program, Undergraduate Curricula, and Undergraduate Research. These programs and their leaders are actively involved with all aspects of undergraduate academic-based life at Carolina including the curriculum, orientation for new students, and efforts to improve retention and increase the graduation rate at UNC-Chapel Hill.

College Office: 3011 Steele Building, CB# 3504, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3504
Phone: 919 843-7773
Website: www.unc.edu/undergrad_ed/

Professor of Dramatic Art

Costume design and costume history, based in Western and non-Western traditions, form the basis of my teaching, with an occasional first-year seminar added to the mix. I write about theatrical designers with books including Costume Design on Broadway (1987) and Broadway Design Roster (2003), the catalog for the United States entry in the 2007 Prague Quadrennial, Design USA (2007) with Jody Blake, and The Designs of Willa Kim (2005). More recently, I edited and contributed an essay about Raoul Pene du Bois to Late and Great: American Designers from 1960-2010, published in 2010 as part of USITT's 50th Anniversary celebration in March 2010.

Department Office: 213 Center for Dramatic Art, CB# 3230, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3230
Phone: 919 962-2483; FAX 919 962-5791
Office Hours: by appointment

Courses:

• Costume Design I, Dramatic Art 467 (167) . An introduction to the tools of the trade used by costume designers to research, design, and render costumes for theatrical productions. (see Fall 2003 Syllabus)
• Survey of Costume History, Dramatic Art 470 (170) . This course, usually offered in fall semesters, surveys the clothing forms worn from Ancient Egypt to the modern day. Lectures, illustrated with numerous slides, focus on why the garments developed and how they reflect the culture in which they occur. (see Fall 2010 Course home page including syllabus). (see honors section home page Fall 2010).
• African and Asian Costume, Dramatic Art 475 (171) . This course, usually offered in spring semesters, considers garments worn in Africa, Asia and on the Arabian Peninsula. Specific topics vary from semester to semester and are presented in lecture format accompanied with numerous illustrations. (see Spring 2009 Course home page including syllabus).
• Theatrical Design, Dramatic Art 477 (177). This course was offered for the first time in Spring 2004 (as DRAM 65, Section 3). It introduced students (primarily undergraduate drama majors) to scenery, costume, and lighting design. (see Spring 2004 Syllabus)
• The Psychology of Clothing:  Motivations for Dressing-up and Dressing-down, Dramatic Art/Honors 81 (6K) .  The course, a first-year seminar, is about how individuality and group attitudes are expressed through clothing.  Common (and occasionally uncommon) motivations for dress are addressed. (see Spring 2003 Syllabus)

Bobbi Owen is also known as Roberta A. Owen and Mrs. Gordon J. Ferguson.

Projects with web links:

Costar - I'm helping Professor Judy Adamson with the vintage costume archive stored in the drama department. A non-western version, NowesArk, is also available.

e-mail: owenbob@unc.edu

Revised August 20, 2012