Stephen Di Benedetto is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Theatre at Michigan State University. Current research and publications explore scenographic design in various cultural contexts and examine the ways in which artists in performance harness the senses to engage attendants. He is interested in arts advocacy and the role of art practice and art education as a mode of knowledge production that intersects with but is fundamentally different from, other sectors of the university. Dr. Di Benedetto’s books include The Provocation of the Senses in Contemporary Theatre (Routledge, 2010), An Introduction to Theatre Design (Routledge, 2012), The Routledge Companion to Designer’s Shakespeare (Routledge, 2016) co-edited with John Russell Brown, and The Cambridge Companion to American Theatre since 1945 (Cambridge University Press, 2021) co-edited with Julia Listengarten. Additionally, he is a Performance + Design Series Editor (Bloomsbury). He is honored to have been selected for the AAN Leadership Fellowship program. He will work with his AAN mentor, Associate Provost for University Collections and Arts Initiatives. Dr. Di Benedetto will use his fellowship to develop his leadership skills and gain a better understanding of how administration implements strategic initiatives in support of the mission of Michigan State University.