Q&A with Suhaila Meera, Assistant Professor of Theatre

When and how did you develop an interest in your field?

I’ve loved performing for as long as I can remember. For a long time, I thought of theater as solely extracurricular; I studied history in undergrad, and was planning to go to law school. But I kept taking night acting classes, and finally decided to pursue a PhD in theater and performance. My specific research agenda—child actors and the contemporary refugee situation—really began when I saw Zara Rasti play Little Amal in Joe Murphy and Joe Robertson’s playThe Jungle. Suddenly, all of the headlines and front-page images of child refugees detained at borders and crossing the Mediterranean came into stark relief. I realized that who is seen as a child (and by whom) and who is imagined as belonging to the nation-state (and by whom) were, in many ways, questions of performance.

What excites you most about joining the L&C community?

I’m really excited to join such a warm, welcoming, and joyful community of scholars, makers, and learners. The theater faculty have been doing such exciting work both at Lewis & Clark and beyond, and I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to deepen my directorial practice and learn from my colleagues. I keep hearing amazing things about how curious L&C students are, and how open they are to new ideas and experiences—a dream for any new professor!

What kind of hobbies or special activities do you enjoy outside of work?

A few of my many loves: contemporary fiction, Bollywood movies, yoga, and vintage shopping.