STEVE WILLIS holds a Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A) degree in Acting/Directing from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in English/Dramatic Arts & Speech from Averett University. He is Chair of the Visual and Performing Arts Department and an Associate Professor of Speech and Theatre at Bennett College for Women, a small historically Black college, located in Greensboro, North Carolina, where Steve resides with his partner, Scott, their dog, Buckley, and their cats, Mr. Sloane and Emily.

Steve’s plays have been produced internationally as well as throughout the United States. In 2009, Passing Ceremonies was produced twice in New York City: at the Hudson Guild Theatre and later at Nuyorican Poets’ Café. Both productions were directed by Obie winner Sue Lawless. In 2005, his romantic comedy/drama Falling So Slowly premiered in Melbourne, Australia, produced by Fly-on-the-Wall Theatre at St. Martin’s Theatre, and directed by Robert Chuter. Other plays have been produced in South Africa (National Arts Festival in Grahamstown), Chicago (Bailiwick Rep), San Diego (Diversionary Theatre) and in various cities throughout the southeast. 

One of Steve’s most recent project is a one-woman play, Diana Sands…, chronicling the life and career of the late African-American stage and film actress. He is currently working on a new play (with actress Beth Ritson) about legendary newspaperwoman, gossip columnist and television personality, Dorothy Kilgallen.

Steve has received numerous grants, prizes and awards for his playwriting including the 2004 and 2003 Carolina Contemporary Playwrights Competition (for Falling So Slowly and The Shadow of Eldorado); the North Carolina Theatre Conference’s 2003 New Play Award (for The Shadow of Eldorado); and a 2001-2002 Playwrights’ Fellowship from the North Carolina Arts Council (also for The Shadow of Eldorado).

An avid yoga practitioner since 2001, Steve completed Triad Yoga Institute’s 330-hour Teacher Training Program in 2005. He has taken classes at Om Yoga in New York City and attended workshops led by John Friend, Elise Browning Miller, Doug Keller, J.J. Gormley, and Baxter Bell. Steve currently "moonlights" by teaching yoga classes at Triad Yoga Institute, Sedgefield Country Club and The Club at Green Valley. As a yoga instructor, he encourages his students to listen to their bodies, discover energy in their postures, and find individual expression throughout their practice.