Deen Rawlins-Harris

Deen Rawlins-Harris is an artist, educator, and administrator whose work centers on youth empowerment, social justice, and innovative theater-making. Deen holds an MFA in Theatre (Drama and Theatre for Youth and Communities) from The University of Texas at Austin and a BA in Education and Political Science from Bucknell University. Their research and creative practice explore youth leadership, educational justice, and community-based approaches to producing theater and performance.

With extensive teaching experience, Deen has designed and implemented arts education curricula, piloted community-centered programs, and led workshops for organizations including Penumbra Theatre, Fusebox Festival, Boston University, Company One, and most recently Emerson College. As a creative producer, Deen managed the Youth Producer Program at Fusebox Festival and served as Associate Producer with HowlRound Theatre Commons, facilitating national convenings and supporting editorial operations. Their administrative leadership now extends to managing Artists-in-Residence programming for the City of Boston’s Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture.

Deen’s artistic portfolio includes directing, devising, and dramaturgy for community-engaged performances, original projects like Traces/Remain, and collaborative work with youth from various communities. They are recognized for their contributions to national conferences, editorial leadership, and impactful grant-winning research. Deen is an active member of professional societies such as the American Alliance for Theatre & Education, and their dedication to equity and belonging drives their advocacy for transformative arts education and organizational change. Through all facets of their career, Deen Rawlins-Harris continues to inspire, empower, and create meaningful community connections through the arts.