Ruth Brandvik Joins College of the Arts Faculty

VALDOSTA — Ruth Brandvik, 29, realized her dream of teaching scenic and lighting design at the university level and serving as an active practitioner of both disciplines regionally and nationally when she joined the Valdosta State University faculty. She is an assistant professor in the Department of Communication Arts’ Theatre Area.

“VSU has a great theatre program with an emerging production emphasis,” said the former Edgewood, N.M., resident and wife of Lane Brandvik. “I am looking forward to continuing to develop that emphasis.”

During the fall semester, Brandvik is teaching THEA 2750: Basic Technical Theatre and Stage Lighting and THEA 3780: Scene Design. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in design and technical theatre from Eastern New Mexico University in 2006 and a Master of Fine Arts in scenic design from Florida State University in 2009. Her areas of professional research include theatrical scenic and lighting design.

Before joining the VSU family, Brandvik served as a properties shop assistant and a paint shop assistant from 2006 to 2009 with Florida State University’s School of Theatre, supervising students and volunteers in properties fabrication and scenic painting. In 2009, she served as a guest instructor at the Tallahassee-based school, teaching collaboration between designer and directors. She then spent the next two or so years working as a service manager with Wells Fargo Bank in Florida’s capital city, gaining experience in training and coaching employees to reach their goals.

In her spare time, Brandvik enjoys reading, playing video games and Magic: The Gathering, and painting.

Contact Ruth Brandvik at (229) 333-5842 or rabrandvik@valdosta.edu to learn more. Her office is located in the Fine Arts Building, Room 273.