She teaches acting and directing, and has been the Artistic Director of the Nebraska Repertory Theatre (NRT) since 2005. She also heads the M.F.A. program in Directing for Stage and Screen and the B.A. undergraduate emphasis in Directing and Management. She became part of the theatre faculty at UNL in the fall of 2000 after sixteen years working as a professional in Chicago. In December of 2010, Local Wonders, a play with music, played in Chicago at Chicago Dramatists under Virginia’s direction. She co-adapted this piece with Paul Amandes, who also wrote the music and some of the lyrics, from poet Ted Kooser’s book Local Wonders: Seasons in the Bohemian Alps. Virginia will participate in the Keynote Panel.