Karen Dresser, Chair of Fine Arts Department Visual Arts, Theater and Eco-Judaism Teacher

Karen's theatrical and artistic interests are varied. She is the former creator and Artistic Director of L’Chaim Productions Jewish Theatre Company (currently in hiatus). She has played such roles as Golda in Fiddler on the Roof (3 times!), Cordelia in Falsettos, Pfeni in The Sisters Rosensweig, Grandma in Mamaleh! and Mother in Amahl and the Night Visitors. She is a freelance writer, poet, playwright and artist, and has won awards and grants in each discipline. In addition, she is an award-winning textile artist specializing in quilted ritual garments (tallitot, ministerial stoles, meditation capes), banners, Torah covers, chuppot, etc.

In addition to teaching at The Academy, she teaches Torah texts and chanting at Temple Emanuel, and pursues a PhD. Her academic interests are in: 1) post-Holocaust theology, philosophy and art (particularly by women); 2) Eco-feminist/Jewish studies that suggest an active restoration of a more feminine, compassionate, embodied attitude towards care for both the earth and humanity; 3) the writings of Jewish French-Algerian Helene Cixous, a philosopher, poet, playwright, essayist and more. Karen has a talented son, recording engineer and singer/songwriter Gabriel Godwin, who records under the name of Rana Vasa.

Karen is now writing and presenting academic papers at various educational conferences. She is a member of The American Educational Studies Association, The American Educational Research Association, The Coalition for the Advancement of Jewish Education, and The National Association of Temple Educators. She is delighted to be teaching with the talented and caring faculty and students at the American Hebrew Academy, and hopes to be doing so for many years to come.