James Filippelli

B.A. – St. Leo College – Theatre/Speech & English Education
M.F.A. – Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
Performing Arts Administration
P.D. – Professional Diploma – Fordham University
Educational Administration
Ed.D. – Manhattanville College – Educational Leadership

Dr. James Filippelli retired as an English and Performing Arts teacher after over 35 years at Walter Panas High School in the Lakeland Central School District. The Performing Arts Center at the high school was recently named in his honor, thus renaming the facility as the Dr. James Filippelli Performing Arts Center. Dr. Filippelli began his career at Dominican University in the fall of 1979, initially directing only for The Aquin Players theatre group. In 1980, he developed the entire theatre curriculum that exists today and has grown through the years. He served as an Adjunct Instructor of Communications from 1980 through the fall of 2016. In 2016, he was appointed an Assistant Professor of Fine and Performing Arts. In 2022, he was granted tenure and promoted to Associate Professor. He developed the Theatre Minor and co-collaborated with colleagues to develop the Film-Studies Minor. He is presently working with colleagues to develop a dance and music minor. In his 45-year association with Dominican, Dr. Filippelli has had the pleasure to direct many main-stage musical productions involving students from all of the fine arts disciplines – art, music, dance, and theatre.