Area of Expertise

• Acting
• Directing

Desmond is entering his twenty-first year at FAU where he teaches graduate and undergraduate acting and directing. Prior to his arrival at FAU, Des worked for six years as Literary Manager for the critically acclaimed theatre company, Florida Stage.

He has an M.F.A. in Directing, a B.F.A. in Acting, and has directed and dramaturged countless productions including his own short play,  White Dance, which was performed at City Theatre's Summer Shorts Festival in Miami.

During his tenure at FAU, Des performed at Theatre Lab, FAU’s resident professional company, in both  Be Here Now  by Deborah Zoe Laufer (the first time he had acted in twenty years!) and  The Glass Piano  by Alix Sobler. His performance in  Be Here Now  garnered him a Carbonell nomination for best actor.

For five years he served as Chair of the Department and another five as Director of the School of the Arts. For a short period of his professional life, he also served as V.P. of Development for Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas (LMDA).

Lastly, for a year in his twenties, he played the recurring role, Evan, in a Canadian TV soap opera. Some of the best fun he’s ever had onstage or in front of a camera.

Oh, and he’s a die-hard fan of the Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers!