Patrick Santoro is a performance educator, director, and artist/scholar dedicated to the transformative power of storytelling. With over 30 years of experience, he has directed and taught across educational and professional stages. Patrick founded the Theatre and Performance Studies program at Governors State University—the only Illinois public university program of its kind, emphasizing storytelling and social activism—where he served as Professor and Artistic Director from 2012 to 2025, leading courses in storytelling, identity, culture, and social change.
Patrick is also a certified English language teacher, having earned a TEFL certification, and now teaches English to adult learners, drawing on his background in performance to create dynamic, learner-centered experiences.
He holds a Ph.D. in Performance Studies from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. His directing work includes Fahrenheit 451, The Laramie Project, A Raisin in the Sun, Cloud 9, The Exonerated, and original adaptations exploring contemporary issues. Patrick serves on the editorial board of the Pedagogy and Theatre of the Oppressed Journal and is the recipient of the Ellis-Bochner Award for personal narrative research.
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