Carin Denise Silkaitis, M.F.A.

Carin Silkaitis (They/Them; She/Her) is the Interim Provost at the University of Alaska Southeast. Prior to this appointment, Carin served the faculty and staff at UAS as the Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences and a Professor of Humanities. Carin hails from Chicago, where they served at Columbia College Chicago as the Allen and Lynn Turner Chair of the Theatre Department, a Professor of Theatre, and a Faculty Fellow serving on the College's Antiracism Transformation Team. At Columbia, managed a substantial budget and led a large faculty, overseeing a significant number of productions annually. Their leadership was instrumental in revamping recruitment strategies, and significantly enhancing student retention during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic. Carin also served as Department Chair of both Art and Theatre at North Central College in Naperville, Illinois for 7 years, and served as a faculty member at this institution for a total of 17 years. While at North Central, Carin tackled the roles of: Head of Acting, Theatre Program Coordinator, Title IX Investigator, and Lead Trainer/Educator for Green Dot - a bystander training technique that eradicates power-based personal violence. Carinʼs tenure at North Central College exemplified their capability to lead and innovate. Carin guided a complete overhaul of the theatre curriculum and led the department through significant growth and development. Carin's dedication to relationship building and community partnerships is evident in their active involvement in numerous boards and councils, including the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council where they currently serve as President. Their commitment to antiracism and inclusivity is further exemplified in their work with the Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Cultural Safety at UAS. 

Carin also spent 20+ years as a working actor from Chicago, with many of those years represented by the wonderful folks at Gray Talent Group. They are a proud member of AEA and SAG/AFTRA. Carin’s notable TV/Film credits include: Co-Star on EMPIRE (FOX), CHICAGO FIRE (NBC) & THE RED LINE (CBS), Nurse in the SAG Feature UNEXPECTED (currently on Amazon Prime Video), and Joy in the award-winning short BEING HERE (winner - Best Supporting Performer, Berkshire Short Film Fest). Notable theatre credits include: Mama in A SHAYNA MAIDEL (TimeLine Theatre Co), Mother/Defense Attorney in MACHINAL and Me in I DO TODAY (Greenhouse Theater Center), Chloe in LIPS TOGETHER, TEETH APART (Eclipse Theatre), Doctor Manor in SONS OF THE PROPHET and Mama/Sherry/Vera u/s (American Theatre Company), Queen Margaret in RICHARD III (Oak Park Festival Theatre), Dean Wreen in SEVEN HOMELESS MAMMOTHS WANDER NEW ENGLAND (Theater Wit), and Izzy in RABBIT HOLE (u/s Goodman Theatre). Some of their favorite directing credits include: LA BOHEME, LA TRAVIATA, and MADAMA BUTTERFLY (Music By The Lake). They recently directed the world premiere of THROUGH THE ELEVATED LINE at Silk Road Rising which was nominated for a 2018 Jeff Award for Best New Work. At the college level - a few of their favorite’s include: THE LARAMIE PROJECT, ENVOY, PHEDRE, THE FLICK, 4.48 PSYCHOSIS, and SPRING AWAKENING. Carin has also appeared in numerous commercials and industrials, and they have lent their talents to many voiceovers and print gigs.

Carin is a graduate of the School at Steppenwolf, and they received their M.F.A in Acting from the Theatre Conservatory at Roosevelt University. They also enjoy scuba diving and snorkeling, as well as camping and traveling with their wife and two children.