About me
Josephine F. Ross is an artist and educator based out of Boston. Originally from Minneapolis, Josephine Ross (M.Ed.) has worked throughout the country as an actor, director, and educator at some of the most influential arts organizations and theaters in the nation (e.g. the Guthrie, Minneapolis Children's Theatre Company, Team Sunshine Performance, Epic Theatre Ensemble, Half Key Theatre Company). She currently serves as the Theatre Coordinator at Hyde Square Task Force, a creative youth development organization for Afro Latin teens in Boston's Historic Latin Quarter. Josephine has partnered her artistic projects with continued academic work (research assistant at Swarthmore College and NYU; graduate student at Harvard's Graduate School of Education; graduate assistant at Emerson College; teaching artist at Harvard's ART and Boston University's Wheelock Family Theatre). Her research interests include 1) identifying and comparing how improvisational theatre (improv) techniques are present in Afro-Latin communities, 2) researching how the application of theatre techniques can impact the empathy of those in the medical community, and 3) understanding implications of improv interventions for DEI-centered learning experiences. Josephine has conducted several studies in these subject areas. Most recently, Josephine received a grant from Tufts University School of Medicine to design an improv workshop to enhance perspective-taking skills of medical students. During the two-hour workshop, the students engaged in improv exercises facilitated by HSTF youth, who co-designed and co-led the workshop. The significant changes from the improv intervention are documented in an article currently under review for publication. Honors and Awards include: Leedom Fellowship, Swarthmore College (2021); Kaori Kitao Humanities Research Fellowship in Theater, Swarthmore College (2020); Joanna Rudge Long Award for Research in Educational Studies, Swarthmore College (2019); High Honors, Swarthmore College (2021); Sole Recipient of the National Heart of the Arts Award (2017); Outstanding Performances, Hennepin Theatre Trust (2016-17).
