Professional Summary
Arts educator with 20+ years of experience in teaching and curriculum development from Pre-K through graduate level. Proven background in project management and community outreach in university and nonprofit settings. Accomplished writer of plays, audio dramas, and novels focused on cultural and historical storytelling. Producer, writer, and director of 200+ episodes of creative and educational audio content.

Skills
Arts education, curriculum development, community engagement, partnership building, project management, creative writing, oral history collection, cultural and historical storytelling, writing for youth, audio production, organization and precision, oral and written communication.
Tools and platforms: Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, Airtable, Zoom, Descript, Final Draft, Canva

Work Experience
Playwriting Instructor, 2021–Present
Wilkes University, Wilkes-Barre, PA
• Mentor graduate students on their creative thesis and literary analysis capstone projects.
• Lead playwriting and audio drama craft lessons during biannual week-long residencies.

Co-founder / Producer / Writer / Director, 2019–Present
Cocotazo Media, Bloomfield, NJ
• Produce high-quality creative and educational audio projects totaling 200+ episodes.
• Write and direct in-house and external audio content, including a multi-season audio drama series with 1.2M+ downloads.

Arts Educator and Curriculum Consultant, 2012–Present
New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Newark, NJ
• Teach theatre and early learning arts programs for students ages 4–18, delivering 40+ residencies and workshops.
• Write and edit teacher curriculum resources for SchoolTime Performances, totaling 90+ materials.

Resident Playwright, 2024–2025
Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ
• Conducted 25+ community interviews and historical research for a commissioned play.
• Developed and wrote a full-length script reflecting local history and community narratives.

Project Coordinator, 2009–2016
Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ
• Coordinated 30+ on-campus and off-site events for arts education, community outreach, and arts-in-health initiatives.
• Provided research, archiving, and administrative support for the College of the Arts Dean’s office.

Box Office Manager and House Manager, 2007–2009
Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ
• Oversaw box office sales for four campus performance venues and supervised ticketing staff for 100+ performances.
• Managed front-of-house operations for a 1,000-seat theater for 80+ performances.

Arts Educator, 2006–2017
Writers Theatre of New Jersey, Madison, NJ
• Led 20+ playwriting and drama residencies and workshops for the Young Playwrights Program (ages 8-18).
• Directed 50+ student-written plays and served as dramaturge for Young Playwrights festivals and assemblies.

Education
MA, Creative Writing, Wilkes University
BFA, Theatre, Montclair State University

Stage Plays
The Quilt Keepers - Full-length play (Music: Lawrence Dandridge), Commissioned by Montclair State University
Production: Vanguard Theater Company

Mi Casa Tu Casa - Bilingual stage play (Music: Michael Aquino, Deivis Garcia; original direction: Jane Mandel)
Production: Luna Stage
Production: Vivid Stage for the New Jersey Theatre Alliance’s Stages Festival
Reading: Wilkes University, Maslow Family Salon Readings Series

Hielo - Full-length stage play
Reading: Nuestras Voces Reading Series, Repertorio Español
Reading: Austin Latino New Play Festival, Teatro Vivo
Reading: Artists United for Puerto Rico (Selection), Step 1 Theatre Project
Reading: FORUM Reading Series, Writers Theatre of New Jersey
Reading: Wilkes University, Maslow Family Salon Readings Series
Reading: Women Playwrights Readings, Writers Theatre of New Jersey/Speranza Theatre/Jersey City Theater Center
Lab: New Jersey Women Playwrights Project, Writers Theatre of New Jersey
Finalist: Nuestras Voces National Playwriting Competition & Henley Rose Playwright Competition for Women

Stay (Room 30) - Full-length stage play
Reading: FORUM Reading Series, Writers Theatre of NJ
Reading: Women Playwrights Readings, Writers Theatre of New Jersey/Speranza Theatre/Jersey City Theater Center
Reading: Wilkes University, Maslow Family Salon Readings Series

Silent Aurora - Stage play
Production: Vivid Stage

Audio
Timestorm - Three-season full-cast audio drama series (1.2 million+ downloads)
Production: Cocotazo Media, Network: TRAX from PRX
Recognition: Common Sense Media Selection, Webby Awards Honoree, Anthem Awards Medalist, NJ Web Fest Winner

NJPAC On the Mic - Non-fiction educational podcast for K-12 classrooms
Production: Cocotazo Media

Martina and the Musician - Audio play folktale adaptation
Production: Cocotazo Media

Hot Drinks - Audio play
Production: Cocotazo Media

Publications
Ignacio in the Dark; Virginia: Northampton House Press/Overdue Books, 2018.
“Vista Eterna” in The Night Bazaar; ed. Lenore Hart. Virginia: Northampton House Press, 2017.
Who’s Ju?; Virginia: Northampton House Press/Overdue Books, 2015.

Additional Recognition
Sakura Medal - Middle School Book Nominee
Latino Book Awards - Mariposa Finalist, Best YA eBook
On Air Fest Selects - Take Up Space (Timestorm episode)
NJ State Council on the Arts - Individual Artist Fellowship

Panels & Presentations
Austin Film Festival - Writing for Audio Fiction
WGAE Audio Alliance - The Art of Audio Fiction
Podcast Movement - Direction in Audio Fiction
Podcast Latin Fest - Fiction Podcasts for Kids
Podtales - Social Advocacy through Fiction Podcasting

Professional Affiliations
Dramatists Guild - Member (NJ Regional Ambassador: 2021-2024)
Actors’ Equity Association - Member
Kids Listen - Member

Dania Ramos

Dania Ramos

Resume / CV

Dania Ramos

RESUME / CV