Alumni in the News

Eric Benson (M.F.A., Design, 2006) published the book Design to Renourish (CRC Press) this fall. The book is for graphic designers and helps to integrate sustainability into their workflow through a design process called systems thinking. 

Michael Gillespie (B.F.A., Art Education, 1983) completed a commissioned portrait of Ray and Nancy Ann Hunt of Hunt Oil Co., in Dallas. Photo by Donna Gillespie.

Hardy Koenig (B.A., Drama, 1990) received tenure and promotion in spring 2016, after five years as artistic director. He is in his second year as Head of the Department of Theatre at North Dakota State University.

David Wyatt (B.A., Studio Art, 1995) and Rachel Wyatt (B.J. 2000, M.A., Visual Journalism, 2004) celebrated the 10th anniversary of Wyatt Brand, a marketing agency specializing in the arts. 

Hacksaw Ridge, the latest film co-written by Robert Schenkkan (B.A., Theatre Studies, 1975) released on Nov. 4. It is directed by Mel Gibson and stars Andrew Garfield.

James Walters (B.F.A., Drama, 1969) spoke with the College of Fine Arts about the past 10 years working with the popular TV crime drama NCIS.

Michael Wellen (M.A. 2005; Ph.D., Art History, 2012) was appointed as the curator of international art at the Tate Modern in London, where he will focus on further developing the Latin American art representation in the Tate’s collection and exhibition program.

Cassie Shankman (B.A., Composition, 2013) will participate in a panel discussion at SXSW 2017 with her colleagues about Austin's Center for Music Therapy’s “Movement Tracks Project.” She’s worked for more than a year as the project’s lead composer.

The College of Fine Arts profiled Kara Liotta (B.F.A., Dance, 2008) to highlight her success as a fitness instructor and model in New York City.

On his second Fulbright Senior Specialist award in jazz, Hank Hehmsoth (B.M. 1975; M.M., Applied Music/Voice/Piano, 1976) will conduct master classes of contemporary American jazz in performance and theory at the Projazz Professional Institute in Santiago, Chile. He also will perform citywide jazz festival concerts with Chilean musicians. Joining him for a week are Russell Haight (M.M., Music, 2007; D.M.A., Music Education, 2009) and Utah Hamrick (D.M.A., Music, 2006), both colleagues of Hehmsoth at Texas State University. Photo by GR Hook.