Phillip Church served as an Associate Professor at FIU Theatre for 40 years, including many years as the department's Chair. During his tenure he directed over 50 productions at the university in addition to countless productions in the community. He retired in 2022 to focus on his company What if Works, Inc., a non-profit post-graduate company offering a bridge between the academic environment and the professional world. He has an MFA in Directing from the University of California, Irvine and the London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art.