Theatre & Communication Department

We strive to improve our students' habits and abilities in communication in its various practical and artistic forms while also providing a background of knowledge and experience to help prepare the student for graduate or professional school and/or a career.

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Enriching Life Through Communication

The William Carey University Theatre and Communication Department is a vibrant and dynamic hub for aspiring communicators and performers. Our comprehensive department encompasses the Mass Communication, Speech Communication, Speech Communication and Theatre, and Theatre programs, each designed to cater to a wide array of interests and career aspirations.

Our mission is twofold: Firstly, we aim to enhance our students' communication skills across a variety of practical and artistic domains, fostering excellence in every interaction and creative expression. Secondly, we strive to equip our students with a rich foundation of knowledge and practical experience, preparing them for successful transitions into graduate or professional schools and embarking on fulfilling careers.

Whether you're drawn to the spotlight, intrigued by the behind-the-scenes magic, or passionate about shaping the future of media and communication, our department offers a nurturing environment where your skills will be honed, your creativity unleashed, and your career prospects significantly enhanced. Join us at William Carey University's Theatre and Communication Department, where your journey towards becoming a proficient communicator and a masterful artist begins.

Find Your Calling

Embark on a journey to discover your passion and purpose at William Carey University. Here, education goes beyond textbooks, blending innovation, faith, and learning to prepare you for not just a career, but a calling.

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Meet the Chair

Mr. James Timothy "Tim" Matheny

Tim has been an actor, director, writer, and teacher for over twenty-five years. He currently serves as Associate Professor of Performance, Chair of the Department of Theatre and Communication, and Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Letters at William Carey University. He also serves as staging director for Carey Dinner Theatre a summer stock theatre company. His directing credits include such works as Macbeth, The Tempest, The Crucible, The Diviners, Crimes of the Heart, Oklahoma, Smoke on the Mountain, and Mamma Mia. As an actor, Tim played George in the world premiere of August Wilson’s play The Homecoming. He has enjoyed performing and teachings in such countries as Kenya, Slovakia, and Russia. Tim lived three years in Moscow, Russia and Prague, Czech Republic where he worked as a missionary, acting coach, and concert promoter. Tim currently serves the Mississippi Theatre Association as their current past president and interim college and university chair. He is also involved with the Southeastern Theatre Conference as the state representative for Mississippi. Tim teaches, various performance-based classes, directing, theatre history, and sound design at William Carey University. He has adapted five full-length plays and co-written one original work. Currently, he is working on his sixth play, entitled A Call on the Wind.

  • Masters of Fine Arts, Theatre Performance, University of Louisville, 1999
  • Bachelor of Fine Arts, Theatre, William Carey College, 1995
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