05/21/2026
Get to know our alumni! Our Theatre Arts spotlight is shining on Christopher Staley, a 2023 PhD alum!
"In my first semester, then student and now alumnus, Dr. Diego Villada, gave me the best advice. He said that in my first year, my job was just to read, read, read. His advice gave me permission to slow down, think about pace and sustainability, and not feel like I had to do everything immediately. Also I remember a passing discussion in Dr. Patrick McKelvey’s seminar about q***r temporality — that, generally speaking, we all have to do things on our own timeline, our own pace, and by our own definition of “success.” It helped me accept that no PhD journeys are the same and mine didn’t need to look like anyone else’s."
Learn more here about Christopher's experience at Pitt and post-graduation on our website here: https://www.play.pitt.edu/christopher-staley
