Boston Conservatory at Berklee Announces Timothy Espinosa as Chair of Theater

Timothy Espinosa, an accomplished educator, actor, director, and musician, will join Boston Conservatory at Berklee as chair of theater starting August 25. Espinosa will serve as a key member of the Theater Division leadership team, helping to oversee the musical theater and contemporary theater programs, and furthering the Conservatory’s core mission of providing students with state-of-the-art training that prioritizes authentic expression, cultural diversity, and professional readiness.

In his new role as chair, Espinosa brings a wealth of experience in both the academic and theater realms. Most recently, he was an assistant professor at the University of Oklahoma Weitzenhoffer School of Musical Theatre. Previously, he founded and led the musical theater program at Fullerton College in Southern California, where he dedicated himself to providing musical theater training to underrepresented communities. His primary research is focused on developing strategies that empower students and faculty to advocate for social justice and challenge Eurocentric ideologies within the craft of theater arts.

Espinosa’s acting credits include appearances at Goodspeed Musicals, American Repertory Theatre, New Repertory Theatre, and the Berkshire Theatre Festival, among others. He is also an accomplished theater director and a violinist whose credits include performances with the Boston Pops and Pacific Symphony orchestras.

“Tim’s clear passion for the artform and commitment to thoughtful innovation align perfectly with Boston Conservatory’s aspirations to shape the future of theater,” says Michael Shinn, interim executive director of Boston Conservatory at Berklee. “Tim is an active member of the theater community and a strong advocate for diversity who has dedicated himself to improving theater industry practices and creating safe learning environments. I have every confidence that he will serve our theater community with dignity, care, and respect.”

Outside of the classroom, Espinosa has advocated for a multicultural and equitable approach to theater education, serving as the lead diversity officer for the Musical Theatre Educators’ Alliance (MTEA) and founding the MTEA’s Committee on Representation, Equity, and Inclusion. He also has led panels addressing race, equity, and inclusion in musical theater, white fragility in theater education, and decolonizing the musical theater curriculum. His internationally presented workshop, Reclaiming the Narrative, helps guide faculty and staff in creating antiracist and safe learning spaces for students. 

Espinosa is a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society and the Actors’ Equity Association, and holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in musical theater from California State University at Fullerton and a Master of Fine Arts in acting from Brandeis University.