Judith Royer, CSJ, Ph.D.
Director
Professor Emerita of Theatre Arts
Judith Royer, CSJ, Ph.D. is currently director for the CSJ Center for Reconciliation and Justice and professor emerita of Theatre at LMU. The CSJ Center works to build bridges for justice and repair broken human relationships, in imitation of St. Joseph, patron saint of the CSJ Community.
For the CSJ Center, Sr. Judith has worked in the areas of the arts as social transformation, engaged learning projects, restorative justice programs and social justice events all of which strive to “educate, heal and liberate both ourselves and the dear neighbor” (CSJ Directional Statement, 2001).
As a professional artist and teacher at LMU she was producer/director for the Playwrights Center Stage new plays series; worked as producer, director and dramaturg with new play development programs sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts, Playwrights Theatre, The Mark Taper Forum, Southern Repertory Theatre, Theatre Gallery in Los Angeles, of which she was founder and former artistic director. She has co-produced and directed a series of Oral Histories/Documentary Theatre projects with seniors, cancer survivors, veterans, at risk youth, the unhoused, victims of domestic violence, survivors of trafficking, lifer parolees and other community-based groups.
Sr. Judith was a founding member of the Association for Theater in Higher Education (ATHE); former chair of that organizations Playwrights Program and New Plays Production Coordinator; Past-Chair for the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival’s Region VIII Playwriting Program and member of that organization’s governing board; recipient of the 2008 ATHE Outstanding Teacher of Theatre in Higher Education, Kennedy Center Gold Medallion for contributions to new plays and playwrights and the 2012 Milan Stitt Award for her work as a playwriting mentor and teacher.