2025 Woodyard Lecture

Professor George W. Woodyard, teacher, scholar, editor, and promoter of the Latin American Theater (1934-2010) was one of the most important North American contributors to the promotion and appreciation of the Latin American theater in this country and throughout the world. He graduated from Eastern Illinois University, received his Master's from New Mexico State University, and his Doctorate from the University of Illinois. He taught Spanish for four years in Chicago area high schools, served two years in the U.S. Army teaching English to native Puerto Rican recruits, and taught two years at Eastern Illinois University before getting his doctorate at the University of Illinois in 1966.

From 1966-2005, Professor Woodyard taught at the University of Kansas. In 1967, he founded and served as the editor of the Latin American Theatre Review, the first academic journal for the field. During his tenure at the University of Kansas, he served as the Chairman of the Department of Spanish and Portuguese languages (1974-78), the Director of the Executive Committee for the Latin American region (1969-83), the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies (1978-89), Director of the Center of International Programming (1984-89), Director of the Center of International Programming (1984-96), and Dean of International Programs and Studies (1989-96). He also spent numerous summers teaching with the KU study abroad programs in Guadalajara, Mexico, Barcelona, Spain, and Santiago de Compostela, Spain.