Rita Shelton Deverell is a journalist, broadcaster, actor, teacher, media producer, consultant, and author. She was born in the United States in 1945, and holds the following academic degrees: Bachelor of Arts, Philosophy, Adelphi University, Garden City, New York, 1966; Master of Arts, Union Theological Seminary, Columbia university, 1968; and Doctor of Education, Educational theory, University of Toronto, 1984. She is married to playwright Rex Deverell and they have one son, Ramsay. She served as Assistant Professor of Journalism at the University of Regina School of Journalism and Communications from 1983 to 1989 when she moved to Toronto. Deverell has worked extensively in radio and television as a researcher, producer, host, interviewer and contributor, most notably for the CBC. As an actress she has performed widely, appearing in productions in Texas, Massachusetts, Ontario, and Saskatchewan, particularly with Regina's Globe Theatre (1970-1980). She has presented numerous workshops and papers, and has served as a performing arts consultant, both freelance and with the Saskatchewan Arts Board (1981-1983).