Katie Olsen is a theatre educator, teaching artist, and theatre professional whose passion is helping students discover their creativity, confidence, and voice through the arts. She currently serves as the Scene Shop Supervisor and Lead Carpenter for production builds at Utah Tech University, where she combines professional theatre experience with a deep commitment to student learning and mentorship.
A proud alumna of Utah Tech University’s Theatre Department and the 2025 Theatre Student of the Year, Katie is a licensed secondary theatre educator with more than 20 years of experience in theatre and arts education. Her career has included work in children’s theatre, community arts, technical theatre, scenic painting, props, costumes, stagecraft, and classroom education.
At Utah Tech, Katie supervises the scenic shop and provides students with hands-on training in stagecraft, scenic painting, rigging, lighting, and production construction. She teaches and mentors work-study students, encouraging safe practices, professional craftsmanship, collaboration, and the confidence to learn through doing.
Beyond the university, Katie is an active theatre and art educator in her community, working with students of all ages through acting classes, improvisation, visual arts, theatre programs, and summer camps. She believes the arts have the power to help young people feel seen, build meaningful connections, and discover strengths they may not yet recognize in themselves.
Katie’s teaching philosophy is rooted in the belief that every student has something valuable to contribute. Whether building a set, stepping onto a stage, creating a work of art, or learning a new skill, she strives to create welcoming spaces where students can take creative risks, learn from one another, and develop a lifelong love of the arts.