June 25, 2021  |  News & Events, Sad News, Timely Announcements

Dear Colleagues,

I share with you sad news from the Peck School of the Arts. Corey T. Collins, Lecturer and Costume Shop Manager in the Theatre Department at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, passed away recently.

Corey earned a BA in Theatre Production from Oakland University, and an MFA in Costume Design from Wayne State University. He was an instructor and costume designer at UW-Milwaukee in the Peck School of the Arts’ Theatre Department. PSOA Dean Scott Emmons described Corey as “a talented designer that had an amazing impact on several of our recent productions.” Dean Emmons also expressed his appreciation for the energy and time Corey put into restoring PSOA’s costume collection and shop following a fire several years ago that caused extensive damage to the theatre and other areas in the Peck School.

Corey shared a love of costume design and theatre with friends and colleagues, and he was described as a proud and diligent teacher and mentor to many, sharing his passion for his craft and his generosity of spirit. Corey designed at a variety of professional and educational theatres across the U.S., including William Street Repertory, The Purple Rose, Meadow Brook, The Swine Palace, BoarsHead, Tipping Point and the Hilberry Theatre.

For additional information, please see Corey’s obituary online. A Visitation and Celebration of Corey’s life will be held Saturday, June 26 at the Maresh-Meredith & Acklam Funeral Home, 803 Main Street, Racine, WI 53403. The Visitation will be held from 1 – 4 p.m., with the Celebration of Life Service following at 4 p.m.

Our condolences to Corey’s family and to the many others whose lives he touched.

Take care,

Johannes

Johannes Britz
Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs