Tina Chapman
Director of Diversity Theatre
Tina Chapman
Director of Diversity Theatre
Education
BA, The College at Brockport, State University of New York; MS, MFA, Rochester Institute of Technology
Bio
Tina Chapman DaCosta is the founder and director of Diversity Theater at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) in the Division of Diversity and Inclusion. Diversity Theater is a college wide program for faculty, staff, students, and community members that presents interactive learning workshops using theater-based methods within the context of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) education. Tina’s unique set of skills enables cross discipline and business unit collaborations to implement impactful culture change initiatives and organizational development using best practices.
Tina has worked as an organizational change expert since 1998. She works collaboratively with all levels of leadership and individual contributors to develop and deliver strategic programming that advances DEI initiatives for community building. Some of her work has included:
- Brick by Brick Film - Winner Best Short Film at the San Diego Black Film Festival 2020, nominated for an academy award for Best Diaspora Short by the Africa Movie Academy Awards 2020, and an official selection for 13 national and international film festivasl. Brick by Brick was written, directed and produced by Tina in partnership with RIT. The “Brick by Brick Community Building Film and Workshop,” created by Tina using the film, is part of RIT’s DEI education for all new freshmen and a strategic offering for advancing RIT’S strategic plan for students, faculty, staff, and community members. Film Trailer: https://vimeo.com/361673626
- Playback Theatre Workshops - Playback Theatre (PBT) is an international form of improvisational theatre used in over 60 countries where participants share personal stories around a common theme that are enacted on the spot by Playback actors and musicians. Tina designed and presented PBT workshops for faculty, staff and students to advance DEI initiatives and skill building, such as bystander action, unconscious bias, and inclusive conversations. Diversity Theater PBT Informational video https://vimeo.com/331109319
Tina has been an assistant professor in the Golisano College of Computing (GCCIS) and a senior lecturer in the College of Liberal Arts (COLA). As an assistant professor, she helped create the Network, Security, and Systems Administration Department in GCCIS and was nominated for the Eisenhart Award for Outstanding Teaching. In addition to directing Diversity Theater, Tina teaches film production and theatre in RIT’s School of Film and Animation and COLA.
Select Scholarship
Conference Presentations
Chapman DaCosta, T., Connelly, J., Hane, E. N. and Magalhães, R. M., “Playback Theatre for Community Building During Physical Distancing and Demonstrations,” 2021 Association of American Colleges & Universities (AAC&U) Massachusetts Project Kaleidoscope (PKAL) Winter Meeting.
Chapman DaCosta, T., Connelly, J., Hane, E. N. and Magalhães, R. M., “Building an Inclusive STEM Community through Playback Theatre,” 2020 Association of American Colleges & Universities (AAC&U) STEM Conference.
Bailey, M., Scully, M., Chapman DaCosta, T., McQuiller Williams, L., Marchetti, C., “Supporting a College-level Environment that Values Civility and Respect through Annual Bystander Awareness and Action Workshops,” 2020 National Academies of Sciences Engineering Medicine (NASEM) conference 2020.
Winters, M., Chapman DaCosta, T., “Bold, Inclusive Conversations Actualized: Leveraging Diversity Theatre for Dialogue,” Minneapolis, MN. 2018 The Forum on Workplace Inclusion Conference.
Chapman DaCosta, T., “Building Inclusive Environments using Theatre-based Methods for Practitioners,” 2018 Genesee Valley Chapter Society for Human Resource Management (GVC SHRM) Conference, 2018.
Chapman DaCosta, T., “Brick by Brick Film Table Reading and Discussion,” 2015 International Museum and Theater Alliance (IMTAL) conference.
Publications
Chapman DaCosta, T., “Sharing Our Stories is Important During Physical Distancing and Protests,” INSIGHT Into Diversity, pp.59 July/August 2020
Chapman DaCosta, T. (2016) Unconscious Bias Play, Writers Guild of America, East
Chapman DaCosta, T. (2016) One Class, Many Stories, Writers Guild of America, East
Chapman, T. (2015) Brick by Brick, Writers Guild of America, East
Chapman, T. (2014) Brick Walls, ProQuest, RIT, Rochester, New York
Chapman, T. (2011) Gone Fishing, Writers Guild of America, East
Chapman, T. (2011) Afternoon Tea, Writers Guild of America, East
Chapman, T. (2010) “STEAM Creative Performance Program,” RIT, Rochester, New York, concept paper
Chapman, T. (2006) “Advances in Optical Networks,” Scholarship At RIT, pp. 2, Rochester, New York
Chapman DaCosta, T. (Manuscript in Preparation). Brick by Brick; The Story Behind the Film
Chapman DaCosta, T. (Manuscript in Preparation). What I Know About Love, Stories From My Life
Films
BRICK BY BRICK, short narrative film, Writer, Director, Producer, Actor
- Winner: Best Short, San Diego Black Film Festival 2020
- Nominated: Best Diaspora Short, Africa Movie Academy Awards 2020
- Semi-finalist: April/May Best Short, Dumbo Film Festival 2020
- Artist Award and Juror’s Choice Award, Women of African Diaspora Film Festival 2020
Remembering the Pythodd, short narrative film, Writer, Director, Producer
- Clarissa Uprooted museum exhibit, RIT’s City Art Space, 2022 https://www.clarissauprooted.org
- Resistance, Rebellion, Renewal: Narratives of Progress and Poverty Exhibit, RIT 2016
- Women of SOFA selection for the High Falls Film Festival 2013.
DEAR ELEANOR, short narrative film, Writer, Director, Producer, expected release Fall 2022
Plays:
- The Release, Actor, Writer, Director, Theatre One Play Festival
- Afternoon Tea, Actor, Writer, Director, Theatre One Play Festival
- Gone Fishing, Actor, Writer, Director, Theatre One Play Festival
- The Best of One and Another, Writer, Director, Rochester Boule’ fund raising event
- Celebration of Life, Black History Play, Writer, Director, the Perinton African American Heritage Committee (PAAHC)
Acting
Theatre
- Before Evening Comes (narrator) Festival of New Theatre, GEVA, Rochester, NY
- The Enterprise Zone acting company (actor various roles) GEVA
- Joe Turner Come and Gone (Martha Pentecost), Rochester Association of Performing Arts (RAPA), Auditorium Theater
- Me and My Girl (The Hon. Mae Miles, Ensemble), RAPA, Theater on the Ridge
- For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When The Rainbow Is Enuf (Lady in Green), RAPA
- Intimate Apparel (Mayme), Center Stage Theatre, Jewish Community Center, Brighton, NY
- Afternoon Tea (Jackie), Theatre One Play Festival
- Gone Fishing, (one-person-show), Theatre One Play Festival
Film
- The Mystery of Her (Tammy), feature, Faith Street Films, 2022
- Brick by Brick (Toni), short, RIT Diversity Theater 2020
- King’s Faith, The Trailer (Vanessa), feature, Faith Street Films, 2013
TV and Commercials
- Blossom Modern Home Care Solutions of WNY (Client), Steven James Media Group, 2022
- Van Putte Gardens (Customer), Great Atlantic Pictures, Front Line Advertising, 2017
- RCTV, The Pythodd Remix, 10-series TV show Creator, Director, and Co-Host; RCTV Executive Director’s Award
In the News
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April 3, 2025
![Crystal and glass awards displayed on a black table with RIT and American flags in the background.]()
RIT community members honored for excellence at Presidential Awards for Outstanding Staff
The annual awards are presented to staff members who exemplify outstanding service and dedication to the university and who exhibit a high degree of personal ethics and integrity, while consistently demonstrating a strong commitment to student success.
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March 18, 2024
![Illustration of six different women. The text reads, Women for Women, the possibilities are numerous, once we decide to act and not react. Quote by Gloria Anzaldua]()
Women’s History Month poster contest entries showcased in the SHED
As part of RIT’s Women’s History Month celebrations, students from across the university submitted their poster designs to the annual Women’s History Month poster contest. The theme of each contest entry is crafted around a quote from Audre Lorde’s collection of essays, Sister Outsider.
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September 11, 2023
![13 male college students wearing black suits lined up on a stage, singing.]()
RIT well represented at 2023 Rochester Fringe Festival
RIT students, faculty, and staff will contribute music, dance, comedy, poetry, photojournalism, and more during the 12th annual Rochester Fringe Festival, which begins Tuesday, Sept. 12, and runs through Sept. 23 in downtown Rochester.
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January 27, 2021
‘Brick by Brick’ nominated for award
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January 21, 2020
Film accepted to two festivals