Biography Proposal

I intend to do my final biography project on Ursula Payne, the chair of the dance department. She is also a professor of dance and the director of SRU's arm of the Frederick Douglass Institute Collaborative.

Payne is also a Certified Movement Analyst and received her certification from the Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies in New York. This is a very exclusive certification in the dance field.

Straight from her faculty biography, Ursula Payne's "other positions held include Co-Director of the Young Dancers School, Director of the Dance Professionals Workshop, Repertory and technique faculty at the American Dance Festival."

Along with working at SRU full time, it is of my understanding that she is also studying and taking classes on the weekend to obtain her PhD.

> I think interviewing Ursula Payne and hearing more about her incredible accomplishments would make for a great biography. I also think that she can speak profoundly on topics such as diversity and inclusion as a woman in a male-dominated field.

Hearing a portion of her story would greatly benefit the dancers on campus, as well as any student in any field at Slippery Rock University - she is an example of talent, hard work, perseverance, and independence.