ABQ Times

University of New Mexico Associate Professor Marissa Greenberg, Ph.D., has been honored with the Barbara Hodgdon Award from the Shakespeare Association of America. This award recognizes excellent scholarship in the domain of Shakespeare and performance, and was given to Greenberg for her article, "Shakespeare in Activism: Podcasts, Processions, and the Public’s Richard II."

Greenberg's passion for Shakespeare flourished during the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020 when she encountered an audio play performed by the Public Theater in New York City. The Public Theater collaborated with WNYC radio to produce a four-episode podcast of “Richard II.” This adaptation sparked Greenberg's reflection on the processional scenes from the play, linking them to modern-day processions related to funerals, religious events, or political movements.

“It’s both symbolic of a moment, but when you’re doing that procession, you’re also performing that thing,” Greenberg noted. “That thing is becoming real through the performance.”

Dealing with a chronic illness, Greenberg was unable to participate in the Women’s March on Washington in 2016, as well as the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests. This led her to explore alternative forms of involvement that could be parallel to the themes she identified within "Richard II."

“I realized that this podcast at that moment was doing something really interesting with the relationship between the body movement and political movements,” Greenberg said. “And so I was like, okay, I have to write this.”

Greenberg has explored the relationship between Shakespeare and social justice movements over the years and sought feedback from various sources for this paper.

“We talk a lot about ‘funds of knowledge’ here at UNM. Everyone brings their own knowledge and unique experiences," Greenberg said. “These really are labors of love that they do. And I’m deeply grateful for it.”

She also championed inclusive teaching strategies known as "podcast pedagogy," which promote anti-discriminatory education. “When the pandemic hit, I recognized that teaching with podcasts can also promote social justice by addressing systemic inequities in student access, safety, and health,” said Greenberg.

Additionally, Greenberg has been appointed the 2025-2027 UNM Presidential Teaching Fellow, an accolade for excellence in education. This role is awarded to educators who significantly improve student success and foster a sense of community aligned with UNM’s mission.

The Barbary Hodgdon Award was named after celebrated Shakespeare scholar Barbara Hodgdon, designed to honor innovative contributions that open new discussions within the realm of performance.