Sessions of 2026 Connection Conference: Kristi Ross-Clausen

Ross-Clausen, Kristi

Director of Education

Kristi Ross-Clausen, MA, CTS, CQT, CQD is a globally recognized expert in theater safety and technical theater pedagogy. A frequent conference keynote and session presenter, she's spoken numerous times at conferences including the Alliance for Wisconsin Theater Education, United States Institute for Theater Technology,, INFOcomm, American Alliance for Theater Education, Alliance for Theater in Higher Education, Event Safety Alliance, Wisconsin School Safety Coordinators Association, International Thespian Society, Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (regions 1, 3 and 8) and many others. A member of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees local 470, she toured North America with the Broadway shows Mamma Mia, War Horse and Priscilla, Queen of the Desert in addition to working as a local union stagehand in all yellow card departments and sub departments for thousands of shows. She is also a stage management member of Actors Equity Association, and served both IA and AEA as convention delegate multiple times. A “retired” K-12 choral/general music, theater and speech teacher, Kristi founded the Technical Theater for Performing Arts Teachers program at the University of Wisconsin, creating all of the curriculum and teaching all courses for the 4 years it existed. She led the Stage and Entertainment Technology Certificate program at Madison College and now serves as a lecturer for the School of Professional and Continuing Education. ??She is an AVIXA Certified Technical Specialist and teaches AVL skills for live events at INFOcomm, where she was named volunteer of the year in 2021. She's on the board of directors for the Association for Quality in Audio Visual and has earned both the Certified Quality Technician and Certified Quality Designer credentials. She currently serves as Director of Education for the Delong Academy, a program of the DeLong Foundation, where she creates classes in all aspects of technical theater, coordinates events and ensures high quality content in all offerings. And continues to serve many others with consulting, speaking, teaching, writing and mentoring. She has a Master of Arts in Theater Research:Theater for Young Audiences with an emphasis in technical theater pedagogy from the University of Wisconsin and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music: vocal performance from Lawrence University. www.theaterhealthandsafety.com