Dyana Kimball’s passion for the theater and the performing arts is being celebrated by her students at Montgomery County Community College.

Kimball, a Theater Regular Lecturer, was named the recipient of the Montgomery County Community College Part-time Teaching Excellence Award sponsored by e-Campus Bookstore. She shares the award with Exercise Science and Wellness Senior Lecturer Dr. Maryellen “Missy” Miller.

Teaching excellence awards recognize part-time faculty whose teaching is intellectually stimulating, accessible for all students, and demonstrates a commitment to the well-being of students both inside and outside of the classroom.  

“It’s humbling,” said Kimball. “The most flattering thing about receiving the award is that it came from students. I am so blown away by that.”

When she received the phone call informing her that she’d received the award, she said she didn’t know much about it. When she contacted the dean of Liberal Studies to find out more, she learned that students nominate faculty members.

“I started crying,” she said. “I just was so moved.”

A graduate of Boston and Columbia Universities, Kimball has directed and taught theater for nearly three decades across the country. She is the founder of the Boston Director’s Lab, for up-and-coming theater directors; has taught at Marymount Manhattan and Dowling colleges in New York and each summer teaches at Columbia’s Creating Original Theater program for high school students.

Kimball started teaching at MCCC in the fall of 2019 and said she loves being able to interact with students and watch them grow in their own love of the arts. Most recently during rehearsals for the epic “Antigone” she marveled at her students’ creativity.

“It was an incredible experience,” she said. “Every time I do a show at Montco I am awed by the talent of the students. All of the shows are not only performed by students but designed and built by them. They are learning while going, making adjustments and solving problems. It’s really exciting to witness that again and again and again.”

She also gave special mention to Theater Assistant Professors Timothy Gallagher and Jessica Dalcanton.

“They have just been so instrumental in my work here at Montco,” she said.

Meanwhile, Kimball’s students have certainly given their fair share of praise for Kimball’s performance. During Commencement, Dr. Chae Sweet, Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost, read from some of the nominations students submitted that led to Kimball receiving the award this year.

“She is a wonderful teacher, who creates a welcoming and positive environment for everyone in her classes,” Sweet read. “She’s always there for us and goes above and beyond to help students learn and grow comfortably without stress.”

Kimball was moved.

“I hope it comes as a result of students really recognizing how much they are at the center of my thinking, teaching and work,” she said. “I strive to keep them at the center of things and make sure they know I care about them as human beings. Not just are you passing a class? That matters too. But first and foremost, who they are as human beings is always the thing that’s top of mind for me. I really do my best to meet them where they are and so hearing all of that at graduation was really moving and really took me aback.”