Meet Our Team
The COTA Proposal Studio Team looks forward to working with you!
Colleen Rua, Ph.D.
acting associate dean of research & strategic initiatives
Dr. Colleen Rua (she/hers) is Acting Associate Dean of Research and Strategic Initiatives for the College of the Arts and Associate Professor of Theatre Studies in the School of Theatre and Dance at the University of Florida. She is also Affiliate Faculty in the Center for Latin American Studies, the Center for Arts in Medicine, and the Center for Arts, Migration, and Entrepreneurship. Her research interests include Latinx Theatre/Contemporary Puerto Rican Theatre, Immersive Theatre, the American Musical, and Theatre for Youth.
Megan Baucom, M.S.W.
finance & grants accountant II
Megan joined COTA as the Finance and Grants Accountant II at the beginning of 2022. Megan enjoys learning about the different projects and research PIs are working on and looks forward to collaborating to expand COTA’s research portfolio.
Lisa M. Oppel
Grants Accountant
Lisa received her BFA from College of Fine Arts in 2010. She has since worked in the realms of ideas and budgets on film sets and later in the College of Medicine. She is excited about change that is happening in the College of the Arts, with our growing involvement and in arts research and broadening our understanding of what arts research means. She has particular interest in how this functions in Florida and the south and how we can adapt to current challenges and shape our future building on our collective diverse traditions.
Jenny R. Hill, m.Ed.
RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIST
Jenny Hill is the Research Development Strategist for College of the Arts at the University of Florida, supporting faculty in developing project proposals, forming collaborative partnerships and securing grant funding to further their creative arts research. She helps COTA faculty promote their arts research and share their expertise, increasing visibility of COTA research throughout the university and beyond. Jenny also offers trainings on grant seeking, project/budget planning, and proposal writing, as well as 1:1 support in preparing a grant application. Her career includes work in performing arts, legal research, HR management, and education, including instruction in theater, dance, creative writing, language arts, and yoga.
CITLALI NAVARRETE FALCÓN
GRADUATE ASSISTANT
GRADUATE ASSISTANT
Citlali is a graduate student in the Museum Studies program in the COTA School of Art + Art History, where she is passionate about transforming how communities connect with their histories. She brings experience from the New York City Municipal Archives and from ethnographic fieldwork in Yucatán, where she deepened her love for Maya culture and material heritage. Citlali is dedicated to creating museum spaces that are culturally responsive, community-centered, and accessible to those historically excluded from them. With a long-term goal of working at the Smithsonian, she hopes to continue advocating for ethical stewardship of Maya artifacts and for museum practices that uplift underrepresented voices.