Scott Olinger, professor of theatre at Cornell College, has been named the Richard and Norma Small Distinguished Professor for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 academic years.
The Small Distinguished Professorship is awarded to a faculty member who demonstrates exemplary teaching, service, scholarship, and leadership within the community and on campus. Olinger, who has taught at Cornell since 2000, is the head of design and production for the Department of Theatre and Dance at Cornell. He earned his M.F.A. in lighting design from Penn State University.
Olinger’s stage designs have been seen as near as Cedar Rapids and as far as Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Texas, Florida, and Scotland. Recent projects include lighting design for the world premiere of “We’ll Get Back To You” at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival—directed by Tony Award Nominee Kristin Hanggi—and lighting for Verdi’s “Macbeth” at Opera Tampa. Olinger is developing an outdoor projection festival for campus and is currently working alongside students to complete an original comedic film in the mockumentary style of Christopher Guest.
The Small Distinguished Professorship was established by Richard Small ’50 and honorary alumna Norma Thomas Small to honor the work of faculty members who have achieved the rank of full professor at Cornell College, recognizing the critical importance of the continuous, long-term commitment of a faculty community to the life of a residential liberal arts college. The Small Distinguished Professor receives an annual award of $10,000 to advance his or her scholarly endeavors.
Previous Richard and Norma Small Distinguished Professors include Rebecca Entel, Leslie Hankins, Craig Teague, Katy Stavreva, Catherine Stewart, James Martin, Todd Knoop, Carol Enns, and Craig Allin.