Jillian Campana is a tenured full professor of theater at The American University in Cairo (AUC) where she also serves as the associate dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences (HUSS). Her research and creative work look at drama as a tool to build community, equality, and identity. She has developed several applied theater projects across the world, including programs for persons living with brain injuries (Swedish institute Framnäs Folkhögskola), victims of sexual trafficking (Stairway, Philippines and International Justice Project, India) and Climate Change (COP27, Sharm El Sheikh). She has written numerous plays and published articles and book chapters in Arab Stages, The Handbook for Social Work with Groups, Scene and Triquarterly among other publications and her work has been honored by the American College Theatre Festival at the John F. Kennedy Center, The Times Higher Education, the PBS independent Lens Awards and the European Social Fund.

Campana studied extensively with Brazilian Theatre activist Augusto Boal, delivered a TEDx talk in Mumbai, India (where she taught in Film City and ran a theater company), and produced the film The Puzzle Club and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) television documentary The Making of the Puzzle Club. Her books include, Acting Successful: using performance skills in everyday life (2015), Western Theatre in Global Contexts: directing and teaching culturally inclusive drama around the world (Routledge, 2020) and It’s Not My Fault: five new plays on sexual harassment in Egypt (AUC Press, 2023) published in both English and Arabic. Her research project, Msh Zanbik, was awarded the 2023 Research Project of the Year in Arts Humanities and Social Sciences for the Middle East-North Africa region by the Times Higher Education.