For more than 35 years, Gretta Berghammer has been a key figure in the UNI Department of Theatre, and a champion for inclusive, accessible theatre.

After a seven year stint as department head in the ‘90s, Gretta took an active role in leading the department's theatre and drama for youth initiative, where she continues her involvement to this day.

In addition to teaching coursework in drama education and theatre for youth, she serves as the Artistic Director for the Sturgis Youth Theatre – a community-based theatre providing performance and production related experiences for students ages four through 16.

The primary focus of Gretta’s creative work has been in theatre education, exploring the relationship between drama and youth with exceptionalities, and devising theatrical works for audiences on the autism spectrum.

In 2011, she launched the Spect-acular Theatre program for kids on and off the Autism Spectrum. Funded in part by a grant from the Guernsey Foundation, the McElroy Foundation, the Darrah and Struck Trust, and a generous donation by John and Jodi Deery, the program is open to all students ages six through 12, but is especially designed to provide drama experiences that best support the development of pretend play, social interaction, and non-verbal communication. 

In 2014, she expanded the program to include Spectrum Pre-School Theatre.

Over the years, Gretta has spoken at nearly two dozen events around the country, and the world, in support of drama and theatre for youth, drama education, and drama for youth on the spectrum.

She is the recipient of numerous awards, including the UNI Outstanding Teaching Award and the Stephen Tsai Award for Excellence in Autism Education from the Autism Society of Iowa. 

In addition, Gretta has served on boards at the departmental, university and national levels, including her role as president of the American Alliance for Theatre and Education.

Within the theatre department, Gretta has developed and directed numerous performances and special projects for TheatreUNI. 

One recent, unique project that Gretta spearheaded was To Touch the Moon. 

Launched in 2019, honoring the 50th anniversary of the moon landing in 1969, To Touch the Moon was a fully inclusive, immersive theatre experience for youth with developmental delays and other exceptionalities. As part of the experience, TheatreUNI students had the chance to build a first-of-its-kind immersive theatre experience. In turn, local youth on the autism spectrum had the chance to benefit from a unique sensory experience that opened their eyes to the wonder of space, and to the power of dreaming far and wide. The project further established the UNI Department of Theatre’s leadership in the field of youth theatre, and ability inclusive theatre. 

Throughout her long and distinguished career, Gretta has been invaluable to her department, her students, and to youth around the community whose lives she has touched.

“Gretta represents the epitome of high quality, engaged teaching,” said Department Head Eric Lange. “She uses her passion to reach people in ways that have been described to me as unimaginable.”

Gretta will retire at the end of the 2021-2022 school year, wrapping up 37 of service to the department, the university, and to the field of theatre and drama for youth. 

“Gretta is an amazing faculty member and human,” said John Fritch, Dean of the College of Humanities, Arts and Sciences. “She creates settings in which students, youth, and community members become even better people. She has worked tirelessly to make the Cedar Valley a kinder and better place, and her impact goes far beyond the UNI campus.”

We wish Gretta all the best in her retirement!