ICC is pleased to announce Ashley Hovell as the new Director of the William Inge Center for the Arts. Hovell, an accomplished actor, director, and theatre educator, will lead programming at the Center while continuing to honor the legacy of Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright William Inge.

Hovell brings more than a decade of experience as a theatre artist and educator. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Performance with an emphasis in Musical Theatre from the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse and is currently pursuing her Master of Fine Arts in Theatre at Randolph College with emphases in acting and directing, expected in January 2027.

Her directing credits include productions with Uprising Theatre Company in Minneapolis, MN, such as Doctor Voynich and Her Children, Line of Sight, The Laramie Project, Twisted Deaths, Prometheus Bound, and Who Has Eyes to See. She was selected as a directing fellow through the ArtsNest DirectorWorks program and participated in the National Winter Actors Retreat with the HBMG Foundation.

As an actor, Hovell has performed with numerous companies, including Hero Now Theater, Mission Theater Company, Six Elements Theater, Lakeshore Players Theatre, and Pillsbury House Theatre, and has been featured in the independent film No Blood of Mine as well as several short films.

 At ICC, she has already been active in the Theatre Department and most recently taught theatre as part of the college’s SummerFest Upward Bound program.

In addition to her performance and directing work, Hovell has training in Meisner technique, devised/movement theatre, Shakespeare performance, and Lucid Body movement, and has directed productions at the high school and collegiate level including The Miracle Worker and These Shining Lives.

“The William Inge Center for the Arts is a cornerstone of both ICC and the Independence community, carrying forward a legacy that celebrates one of America’s greatest playwrights,” said Hovell. “I am honored to build upon this rich history while fostering new opportunities for collaboration, creativity, and connection. The arts have a unique ability to bring people together, and I look forward to strengthening the ties between ICC, our students, and the wider community through the work we do here.”

"Ashley brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to both the arts and the community,” said Dr. Jonathan Sadhoo, ICC President. “We’re confident that under her direction, the Center will continue to honor William Inge’s legacy while providing meaningful opportunities for our students and community to connect through the Arts."

For more information on the William Inge Center please visit: www.ingecenter.org.