Episode 3: Divine Intervention: The Curious Pursuit of Artistry and Education with Dr. T

In this episode, renowned Broadway artist/actor, director, and professor Dr. Tawyna "Dr. T" Pettiford-Wates opens the conversation with a powerful secondary school story that demonstrates her curious commitment to the inquiry process of life along with the unwavering support of her parents. She describes her purpose work as a bridge builder to connect peoples, groups, and perspectives that would not connect by any other means. For Dr. T, “being an excellent educator is an artistic practice.” Her journey to education was by way of an invitation to share her artistry with young Black girls in the Hill District, where August Wilson set his plays. In the same manner, her mentor encouraged her to pursue doctoral work where scholar and activist Angela Davis was a part of her dissertation committee. Then she follows with life-changing stories of her purpose confirmation work of racial conciliation with her theatre company, The Conciliation Project. Dr. T's love for curiosity and education has offered her the opportunity to be a professor to many all over the world, with the longest tenure at Virginia Commonwealth University as Professor of Graduate Pedagogy, Acting, and Directing. Listen to the joy and laughter between Tawyna (Dr. T) and Tanya (soon to be Dr. B) as Dr. T drops too many pearls of wisdom to count.