Patrick Chmel received his undergraduate degree from Bemidji State University in Minnesota and his M.A. and PhD from the University of Missouri in Columbia. He teaches a variety of courses including American Theatre History, Contemporary American Theatre and Directing. His productions of "Hair," "Equus," and "The Elephant Man" were included in the Princeton Packet's annual assessment of the region's best productions. He is a recipient of the Lindbach Award for Distinguished Teaching and the Frank N. Elliott Award for Distinguished Service.