Associate Professor Emerita Freda Scott Giles earned her PhD at the City University of New York. A specialist in African-American Theatre, directing and acting, she is the author of articles focusing on early African-American theatre, drama and theatre of the Harlem Renaissance period and contemporary African American theatre practitioners. She has presented papers at national and international conferences, such as Black Theatre Network, ATHE and ASALH. She has several play scripts to her credit, and has directed a number of productions in New York and Georgia. A professional actor and member of Actors Equity Association and SAG-AFTRA, Dr. Giles has performed a number of roles off-Broadway as well as in film, television and radio. Before coming to the University of Georgia under a joint appointment in Theatre and Film Studies and African American Studies, Dr. Giles taught at State University of New York at Albany and City College, City University of New York. She retired as associate professor emerita from UGA where she taught courses in theatre history, African American theatre, African theatre, and directing for the stage; she directed a number of University Theatre productions and was honored to become a General Sandy Beaver Teaching Professor. She served as associate director for the Institute for African American Studies and was on the affiliate faculty of the African Studies Institute and the Institute for Women’s Studies. She is a founding editor of Continuum (now known as BTN Journal), an online open access journal of African/Diaspora theatre, drama and performance published by Black Theatre Network. She recently served on the board of Friends of the Georgia Museum of Art. She also served on the board at the Morton Theatre. She is a charter member and immediate past president of the Athens Branch of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History and is a member of Emeriti Scholars, Links, Incorporated and Delta Kappa Gamma honor society. She has served on the Athens Juneteenth Celebration committee. Her most recent directing project is Linnentown:The Musical, which premiered at the Classic Center Theatre in April 2024.
