Ashley Lucas is a scholar, artist, educator and advocate for the transformative potential of theatre, particularly at the intersection of performance, incarceration and social justice. She joined the U-M faculty in 2013 as professor and director of the Prison Creative Arts Project, where she pioneered initiatives that brought transformative arts programming to carceral spaces.
Her book, “Prison Theatre and the Global Crisis of Incarceration” (2020), examines how theater offers dignity and a creative outlet amidst the dehumanizing forces of incarceration and has been translated and published internationally.
Additionally, she has worked closely with the Annual Exhibition of Artists in Michigan Prisons, providing incarcerated artists with a platform to showcase and sell their work, and developed community-engaged learning opportunities — including workshops in Michigan prisons where U-M students engage with incarcerated participants in creative writing, visual art and performance.
She has been honored with the U-M Regents’ Award for Distinguished Public Service and multiple awards that celebrate her scholarship, creative work and advocacy.
Ashley Lucas is a Professor of theatre and drama, School of Music, Theatre & Dance; professor in the Residential College, professor of English language and literature, LSA; and professor of art and design, Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design; former Director of the Prison Creative Arts Project (PCAP)
