Marie Ramirez Downing

Marie Ramirez Downing is an esteemed educator and practitioner in the field of voice and speech, currently serving as an Assistant Professor of Voice and Speech in the Department of Theatre at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign since August 2024. With extensive experience as a Linklater Voice Teacher and Coach at Shakespeare & Company and the KRISTIN LINKLATER VOICE CENTRE LIMITED since 2006, Marie has also held teaching positions at Sonoma State University, California State University, Fresno, and California State University, Chico. Additional roles include guest directing at 6th Street Playhouse and providing voice and dialect coaching for various productions. Marie's academic credentials include a Designated Linklater Voice Teacher certification, an MFA in Acting from DePaul University, and a BA in Theatre Arts from California State University, Fresno.