Vera J. Katz is Professor Emerita of Theatre Arts at Howard University, where she taught acting and directing for 32 years, and a former acting faculty member at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts. An accomplished director, educator, and dramaturg, she has directed productions across the United States and internationally, earning recognition for her work in Ireland and at Ford’s Theatre. Her distinguished former students include Debbie Allen, Chadwick Boseman, Taraji P. Henson, Phylicia Rashad, and Anthony Anderson. In 2023, Katz received Howard University’s Living Legend Award and continues to mentor artists through the Frank Silvera Writers’ Workshop.