Texas Border Business

By Clarissa Martinez

McALLEN, Texas – South Texas College Drama Department Chair Joel J. Rodriguez stands among some of the most prestigious leaders in the country in the Theater education community.

Rodriguez recently became the first Latino to be named chair of the board for the American Alliance for Theatre and Education (AATE), one of the most recognized arts education organizations that works to ensure that young people experience quality theater arts in their lives provided by proficient, talented artists and educators. 

“It’s something that is really close to my heart because this is my family, my professional family,” Rodriguez said. “In our field, when we think about theater and education, AATE is the organization that comes to mind for many. We’ve had a longstanding presence in the U.S., since the 1930s, when it comes to theater education for young people.”

The Junior Leagues of America called for children’s theater conferences in 1932, which then expanded in 1936 as the American Educational Theatre Association, a nonprofit organization that encouraged the development of theater in education. Through the decades the nonprofit reached more communities across the U.S. and Canada and by 1987, the newly named AATE was listed as the premier professional theater organization for youth educators, directors, performers, students and volunteers.

Rodriguez said his appointment in the organization reflects the changing landscape and effort to uphold the representation of people of color in the theater profession and education field.

“For myself, to step into the position of chair this coming year and knowing that I will be the first person of color, the first global majority, the first Latinx to serve is an honor,” he said. “Knowing that I’m representing not just staff at our college and representing an organization that works across the U.S. with youth theater companies, universities and colleges, public schools and community organizations, but also creating a space of belonging, understanding, empathy and dialogue for everyone is exciting.”

Rodriguez added that the AATE executive director, Alexis Truitt, is also the first Latina to be in that position, a reflection of the organization’s commitment to breaking down barriers and creating a place of welcoming and belonging for all.

“Membership has changed so much through the years and our board now is more reflective of the communities we come from and the communities that we serve which is beautiful for me,” Rodriguez said. “It’s taken a lot of work to get to this point and there’s still a lot of work to do, but we also know there are ways for us to be accountable for it. I’m excited about seeing how we continue on that path.”

Rodriguez, originally from the Houston-area, moved to the Rio Grande Valley in 2003 after earning his Master of Fine Arts in Theater from the University of Texas at Austin. He taught theater at both the middle school and high school level at La Joya Independent School District and was the founding theater director at Palmview High School. He has chaired the drama program at STC since 2010.

“We have students in high school to folks who are retired and have their degrees, but want to try something different,” Rodriguez said. “STC is a great place to be and the growth and significance we have is why I appreciate the work that we do here. We believe in pushing boundaries, thinking outside of the box and telling stories that are not normally told. And, my mom and sister benefited from attending community college, so I know the power community colleges have, and I always believed in that aspect of being in a place where you’re focused on building a foundation.”

Rodriguez said his parents were migrant farmworkers, and his family history inspires him to help people break boundaries and push past limitations. 

“I have a photo of my family working in the fields in my living room and it’s significant to me and reminds me of what I have to share,” Rodriguez said. “Teaching has always been my passion, as well as theater. This place allows me to have that voice, and more importantly, to live my authentic self as Latinx, as queer, as all these layers that are so important to me. Here at STC, I’m allowed to flourish, thrive, explore, be whole with all my identities and do what I think is important.”

Students interested in STC’s Drama program can visit www.southtexascollege.edu/academics/drama/.

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