Dr. Bill Gabelhausen Shares His Unexpected Path to Piedmont

This summer, we've asked some of our Piedmont faculty to answer a simple prompt: tell a story that matters to you. Our second faculty highlight, theatre professor Dr. Bill Gabelhausen, shared his journey from professional acting to teaching. Enjoy!

The one aspect I enjoy most about my job is to witness the 4-year journey of our Theatre majors.  Their transformation from wide-eyed freshmen to focused and driven seniors is simply beyond compare.  Not only do they refine their craft and define their purpose in the world of Theatre, but they also find their “voice” – their humanity, their compassion and passion.  Honestly, this is what makes me want to come to work everyday.

When I graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University, I had a specific plan: finish my internship in New York City and move to the city permanently.  I had everything planned and put it into “operation mode”. A place like Piedmont University was NEVER included within this plan.  Never! After working in NYC and the eastern United States, I signed a contract for a national tour of The Elephant Man and as a member of the acting company, we also did workshops with high school and college students.  While I cannot precisely remember when I was bitten by the “acting bug”, I clearly remember being bitten HARD during this time by the “Theatre Education bug”.  This eventually led me to Piedmont University, and I cannot be more thrilled to work with these students on a daily basis, glory in their growth, assist them with obstacles and help them discover their “voice” during their 4-year journey.  When I watch each theatre major cross the stage at graduation, my first thought is “I know you have a plan, execute it, believe it but keep your heart open to options that may change your life in an incredible way.”  I listened to my heart and because of that Piedmont University has been my “home” for nearly 20 years.