Faculty Profile for Yesenia Herrington
Yesenia Herrington
Assistant Professor — School of Theatre, Dance, & Film
THEA 101
phone: (512) 245-2147
Biography Section
Biography and Education
Yesenia Garcia Herrington is an actress, educator, and entrepreneur. A Rio Grande Valley native, she is a graduate of Southwestern University and The University of Texas at Austin MFA Acting Program. Her film and television credits include the award-winning documentary Horton Foote: The Road to Home, the award winning National Geographic mini-series The Long Road Home, HBO's The Leftovers, AMC's The Son, among others. On stage, her role as Carolina in the National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere of The Madres by Stephanie Allison Walker earned her a Broadway World nomination for Best Leading Actress. She is an Assistant Professor and Head of the B.F.A. Performance and Production program. In 2010, she founded C2C Multimedia, a company focused on elevating arts education and media for underrepresented populations. In 2015, she was invited by President Barack Obama to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the National Endowment of the Arts at The White House. In 2020 she became part of Southwestern University's second "18 Under 40" cohort for her work in the arts. In 2022, she was honored with the Uta Hagen Award, a national award presented by the Kennedy Center American College and Theatre Festival, the College of Fellows of the American Theatre, and HB Studios in New York City.Selected Scholarly/Creative Work
- Director, Prima's Guide to Funerals.
June 2024 - September 2024.
Performances:
- 2024 Season. July 12, 2024 - September 14, 2024 Creede Repertory Theatre, Creede, CO.
- (Curated) Reviewed by: Beki Pineda.
- Actor, The Wolves.
November 29, 2023 - December 3, 2023.
Performances:
- The Wolves. November 29, 2023 - December 2, 2023 Studio Theatre, San Marcos, TX.
- (Peer) Reviewed by: Dr. Marcus E. McQuirter.
- Co-Producer, Kinky Boots.
June 30, 2022 - November 20, 2022.
Performances:
- Kinky Boots Off-Broadway Revival. August 25, 2022 - November 20, 2022 Stage 42, New York, NY.
- Reviewed by: David Finkle.
- Actor, Tough Luck Ep. 1.
March 1, 2025.
Showings:
- Advanced Web Series. May 2, 2025 - Present Course Project, TXST.
- Actor, She Was Here.
December 2024 - February 2025.
Performances:
- WORLD PREMIERE: She Was Here. January 17, 2025 - February 9, 2025 Austin Playhouse, Austin, TX.
- (Curated) Reviewed by: Sabrina Wallace.
- (Curated) Reviewed by: Ryan E. Johnson.
Selected Awards
- Award / Honor Recipient: Uta Hagen Award, College of Fellows of the American Theatre / Kennedy Center American College / Theatre Festival / HB Studios. May 2022
- Award / Honor Nominee: Academic Employee of the Year, Central Texas College. 2021
- Award / Honor Recipient: “18 Under 40”, Southwestern University. 2020
- Award / Honor Recipient: National Endowment for the Arts 50th Anniversary Celebration, National Endowment for the Arts / President Barack Obama. October 2015
- Award / Honor Nominee: Academic Employee of the Year, Central Texas College. 2020
Selected Grants
- Herrington, Yesenia Yadira. National Endowment for the Arts, Austin Symphony, Federal, $20000. (Funded: September 1, 2019 - August 31, 2020). Grant.
- Herrington, Yesenia Yadira. National Endowment for the Arts Collective Impact Grant, National Endowment for the Arts, Federal, $100000. (Funded: 2016 - 2017). Grant.
- Herrington, Yesenia Yadira. National Endowment for the Arts Collective Impact Grant, National Endowment for the Arts, Federal, $80000. (Funded: 2015 - 2016). Grant.
- Herrington, Yesenia Yadira. Department of Education Professional Development for Arts Educators Grant, Department of Education, Federal, $1300000. (Funded: September 2014 - August 2019). Grant.
- Herrington, Yesenia Yadira. National Endowment for the Arts Digital Media for All Grant, National Endowment for the Arts, Federal, $20000. (Funded: 2013 - 2014). Grant.
Selected Service Activities
Undergraduate Advisor
Head of B.F.A. Performance and Production
August 2023-Present
Undergraduate Advisor
P&P Student Advisory Committee
August 2023-Present
Co-Chair
Kennedy Center American College and Theatre Festival Region 6
January 2023-January 2026
Undergraduate Advisor
Jeremy Torres Lab Theatre
August 2024-May 2025
Undergraduate Advisor
Jeremy Torres Lab Theatre
August 2023-May 2024