Andrea J. Severson, PhD
Education
Research Interests: Rhetoric of Fashion, Fashion Theory, Rhetoric of Costume Design, Material Culture, Public Memory and Fashion, Stateswomen & Royal Women, Fashion Icons, James Bond, Bond Girls
PhD, English Writing, Rhetorics, and Literacies, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 2018
Dissertation:
MA, English Rhetoric and Composition, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 2013
Thesis: "License to Thrill: Bond Girls, Costume Design, and Representation"
MA, Media Arts, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 2007
BA, Theatre Arts, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 2004
Teaching Experience
Graduate Teaching Associate, English
August 2014-May 2018
Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
Taught a variety of courses across the undergraduate level. Responsible for teaching ENG101/102 (First Year Composition), ENG215 (Strategies for Academic Research and Writing), and ENG301 (Writing for the Professions).
Adjunct Instructor, Performing Arts
September 2012-Present
Paradise Valley Community College, Paradise Valley, AZ
Taught undergraduate courses surveying history of theatre, theatre production, and history of playwrights from 1890 through the present day. Also taught Fundamentals of Costume Design which focuses on the history of costume design and the basics of being a costume designer.
Adjunct Instructor, Performing Arts
January 2010-May 2012
Glendale Community College, Glendale, AZ
Taught a variety of introductory courses in theatre such as Acting 1, Introduction to Cinema, and Theatre Makeup which focused on the basics principles of creating a character, the history of film from the silent era through the 1970s, and basic theatre makeup techniques. Additionally taught advanced courses in Advanced Acting Techniques, Advanced Theatre Makeup, and Modern Drama which focused on more advanced character creation and makeup skills as well as a survey of modern plays and playwrights from 1890 through the present day.
Adjunct Instructor, Humanities/Theatre
June 2011
South Mountain Community College, Phoenix, AZ
Taught undergraduate course (1 section) in Cinema which focused on the history of the film industry and film as an art form from the silent era through the 1970s.
Graduate Teaching Assistant, School of Theatre Arts
August 2006-December 2007
University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
Assisted in the instruction of undergraduate introduction to theatre course, Theatre Appreciation. Held office hours, mentored students, and created and graded exams.
Academic Publications
Severson, Andrea J. “Fleur de Force: Beauty, Creativity, and YouTube.” Women’s Ways of Making. Eds. Maureen Daly Goggin & Shirley Rose. Carbondale: Southern Illinois UP, 2021. Print.
Severson, Andrea. Review of Fashion and Politics, ed. by Djurdja Bartlett. The Journal of Dress History, vol 4, no. 2, Summer 2020, pp. 212-213.
Severson, Andrea. Review of Fashion and Fiction: Self-Transformation in Twentieth-Century Literature, by Lauren S. Cardon. Journal of Dress History, vol 2, no. 1, Spring 2018, pp 27-28.
Boyd, Patricia and Andrea J. Severson. “Negotiating Diverse Populations in Online Graduate Courses: Key Implications.” Fostering Effective Student Communication in Online Graduate Courses. Eds. Abigail G. Scheg and Melanie Shaw. IGI Global, 2017.
Severson, Andrea J. “Designing Character: Costumes, Bond Girls, and Representation.” For His Eyes Only: The Women of James Bond. Ed. Lisa Funnell. New York: Wallflower Press, 2015. Print.
Conference Presentations
Association of Dress Historians, London, UK October 2019
“Up with Hems, Down with Society: Rhetoric and Response of the Dress Reform Movement”
Association of Dress Historians, London, UK October 2017
“First Lady Michelle Obama and Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge: Challenging the Boundaries of Fashion”
Southwest English Symposium, Tempe, AZ February 2016
“Commodifying Fleur de Force: YouTube, Beauty, and Branding”
Coalition of Feminist Scholars in the History of Rhetoric and Composition: Feminisms and
Rhetorics, Tempe, AZ
“Fleur de Force: Beauty, Creativity, and YouTube” October 2015
Southwest English Symposium, Tempe, AZ February 2014
“Fashion Hybridity: Fashion, Blogs, and the Democratization of the Fashion Industry”
Invited Lectures
Severson, A. “Dressed to Rule: Fashion, Rhetoric, and Power of the Female English Monarchs.” Phoenix Art Museum Docent Continuing Education Lecture Series 2012-2013. Phoenix Art Museum. Phoenix, AZ. Mar 2013.
Severson, A. and Hannah Hayes. “In Vogue: Vogue’s Online Archive and the September Issue.” Arizona Costume Institute 2nd Wednesday Lecture Series 2012-2013. Phoenix Art Museum. Phoenix, AZ. Sep 2012.
Fashion Exhibitions
Severson, A. Volunteer. Curated by Dennita Sewell. (2012) Modern Spirit: Fashion of the 1920s. Phoenix Art Museum. September 22, 2012 to February 15, 2013.
Professional Experience
Resident Costume Designer/Costume Shop Supervisor
Paradise Valley Community College; Paradise Valley, AZ May 2012-June 2013
Created costumes for each production based on the director’s vision and supervised/assisted student volunteers in the construction of costumes for each show.
Independent Contractor (Costume Designer, Asst. Costume Designer, Wardrobe Supervisor)
Phoenix & Tucson, AZ Sept 1999-Aug 2013
Costume Designer - Designed costumes for a variety of film and theatre productions while collaborating with the director and other designers in creating and executing design concepts. Managed and maintained a strict budget and operated within a strict production schedule, with a variety of shooting locations.
Assistant Designer - Supported the designer and their vision and managed administrative aspects of the costume production such as calling actors to schedule fittings, preparing costumes on location for the day’s shoot, and maintaining costumes during the run of the production
Wardrobe Supervisor - Responsible for wardrobe maintenance and logistics as well as liaising between the actors and the costume department.
Costume Shop Supervisor
Valley Youth Theatre; Phoenix, AZ Jan 2010-Aug 2010
Assisted designer in executing the director’s vision as well as supervising a staff of volunteers, delegating/assigning projects to each, according to their specific skill set.
Costume Designer/Costume Technician
Arizona Broadway Theatre; Peoria, AZ Feb 2008-Jan 2010
Collaborated with designers and other technicians to execute and realize the director’s vision and construction of costumes and crafts for each production.
Costume Design
Theatre
Paradise Valley Community College, Paradise Valley, AZ
The Drowsy Chaperone, Costume Designer 2013
25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Costume Designer 2012
Bus Stop, Costume Designer 2012
The Scarlet Pimpernel, Costume Designer 2012
South Mountain Community College, Phoenix, AZ
To Kill a Mockingbird, Costume Designer 2011
Dear Harvey..., Costume Designer 2010
Taming of the Shrew, Costume Designer 2005
Arizona Broadway Theatre, Peoria, AZ
The Elves and the Shoemaker, Costume Designer 2008
University of Arizona
Side Show, Asst. Designer/Co-Wardrobe Supervisor 2005
Arizona State University
Plastic Angels, Costume Designer 2004
Reckless, Co-Costume Designer with Connie Furr 2004
Film
NALIP Latino Producers Academy 2006, Costume Designer & Wardrobe Supervisor
Broken Dir. Alex Ferrari
Navaja Dir. Robert Kubilos
Stuck (short) 2006, Costume Designer, Dir. Eli Benevidaz.
Moonpie (feature) 2005, Costume Assistant, Dir. Drake Doremus.
Vengeance (short) 2005, Costume Designer, Dir. Jennifer Smith
Professional Service
Arizona Costume Institute, Phoenix, AZ
President Elect 2014-2015
Executive Committee Member 2011-2014
Board Member, Programming Co-Chair 2011-2014
Nominating Committee Member 2011-2012
Budget Committee Member 2011-2013
2010 Holiday Luncheon Committee Member & Silent Auction Chair Oct-Dec 2010