Faculty Bio

Las Cruces, New Mexico

Ryan P. McMullen, M.F.A., is a professional dance artist, educator, and choreographer who currently serves as the Dance Program Coordinator, College Assistant Professor, and Artistic Director of the New Mexico State University Dance Theatre. Originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, his artistic and academic work centers on movement efficiency, somatic research, and decolonized pedagogy, foundational elements he continues to explore as a doctoral student pursuing an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Administration at NMSU. McMullen holds a B.A. in Dance from Slippery Rock University (where he received the Excellence in Performance and Choreography awards, and the 2022 Rock Alumni 10 Under 10 Award) and an M.F.A. in Dance from Florida State University.

Rooted deeply in the Philadelphia house dance tradition and the pedagogical lineage of Rennie Harris Puremovement, with whom he performed in the production of LIFTED! A Hip-Hop Gospel Musical. McMullen’s artistic expertise spans modern, hip-hop, house, jazz, tap, and Latin ballroom and folkloric forms. He has performed works by prominent artists such as Jawole Zollar, Ursula Payne, and André Zachery, and his own choreography has been presented nationally at Gibney Dance Center, Dixon Place, Koresh Dance Company’s Come Together Festival, and the American College Dance Association (ACDA). Prior to leading the NMSU dance program and producing its regional Fusion de Frontera concert, McMullen served as a Visiting Professor at Bucknell University, Director of Dance at Louisburg College, and faculty member at Slippery Rock University and El Paso Community College.