Campus Wide, College of Humanities & Social Sciences, Faculty

Prof. Thomas Keating wins 2021 Excellence In Teaching Award

By Jenna Johnson | April 14, 2021

Thomas Keating is a professor of theatre at Charleston Southern University and the 2021 Excellence In Teaching award recipient. Photo by Richard Esposito

The South Carolina Independent Colleges & Universities (SCICU) recognized the 20 winners of this year’s Excellence In teaching awards and their achievements in the classroom and campus communities. Charleston Southern University congratulates Thomas Keating, professor of theatre, upon his selection as the university’s recipient of the 2021 award.

Keating holds a Master of Fine Arts in Acting from Columbia University (New York) and a Bachelor of Arts in Drama from The University of Georgia. He is also a member of the Actors’ Equity Association.

Keating, a member of the CSU faculty since 2007, is the coordinator of the university’s Theatre Program. He teaches a wide variety of courses including Acting, Directing, Stagecraft & Design, and Acting for the Camera.

In addition to his teaching course load, Keating directs at least two productions a year. Some favorites include “The Diary of Anne Frank,” “West Side Story,” and “King Lear.” Keating’s training with Anne Bogart (movement) and Kristin Linklater (voice) uniquely equips him to encourage and promote excellence in theatre. Professor Keating’s work as an actor in various cities, including New York City and Boston, enables him to offer a real-world perspective to Charleston Southern students.

Keating also writes and voices characters for a local animation company, Moondog Animation Studio.

As a member of Seacoast Church in Mt. Pleasant, Keating regularly assists with their productions, most notably, their Easter Passion Play, “The Thorn.”

“Thomas brings his skills to the classroom, and his passion for the arts to every aspect of his teaching and university service,” said Dr. Jacqueline Fish, Charleston Southern vice president for academic affairs. “He is certainly a favorite among our students, and their successes are directly linked to Professor Keating’s instruction and mentoring.”

Thomas Keating, pictured here with President Dondi Costin and the award, will be recognized at the 2021 Commencement for his achievements. Photo by Jan Reed

A faculty member from each of SCICU’s 20 member colleges and universities is nominated for the Excellence In Teaching award according to rigorous guidelines. The award recipients receive a framed award certificate and a $3,000 professional development grant. Usually the award recipients and their guests are honored with a special dinner in April during S.C. Independent Colleges and Universities Week; however, due to the pandemic, the dinner was cancelled in 2020 and in 2021. Instead, their achievements were recognized online. CSU will recognize Keating at the 2021 Commencement.

In a statement from SCICU’s president and CEO Jeff Perez, he shared that each member institution shares a deep commitment to student achievement.

“The SCICU Excellence In Teaching Award recipients embody that dedication by providing an education that is second-to-none and inspiring their students to become leaders in their professions and communities,” Perez said.