Alumni in the News

Michael Austin (M.M., Theory, 2007) was appointed Founding Director of the School of Music at Louisiana Tech University where he has developed a degree program in Music Industry Studies, focusing on music and audio production. Photo by Donny Crowe

Andrew William Parker (D.M.A., Woodwinds, 2013) has been appointed Assistant Professor of Oboe as well as Director of Summer Music Camps at the Oklahoma State University School of Music. He currently holds the position of Lecturer of Oboe and Music Technology at Brevard College along with Artistic Administrator at the Brevard Music Center Summer Festival and Institute. Photo by Art of Roxy Photography

Jonas Criscoe (B.F.A., Studio Art, 2006) has his work featured in “Warmly Persuasive,” a group exhibition at Tiger Strikes Asteroid in Los Angeles, California. His work is also displayed in Print Houston’s NEXT2019, a national juried print biennial. Photo courtesy Jonas Criscoe

William Rayford Lyne (M.F.A., Studio Art, 1969) has released a book titled “Kalliste: Thothmes III’s Danaan Colony in New Mexico, ca. 1626 B.C.” Photo courtesy William Rayford Lyne

Alumni Travis Tate (M.F.A. 2018) and Graham Schmidt (M.F.A. 2018) have teamed up for Theatre East's 5X5 Drama Series, presenting Tate's work Color at the End of the World. Theatre East is an official partner of NYC Pride and this year's 5X5 Drama Series features original, commissioned work celebrating the LGBTQ community remembering the 50th Anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. 

Alumna Kimberly Belflower's (M.F.A. 2017) play John Proctor is the Villain was selected as one of 33 new plays on the 2019 Kilroys List, which includes un-produced and underproduced plays by women, trans and non-binary authors. Titles are selected by nomination through the New Play Exchange. 

Recent alumnus Andrew G. Rodriguez (B.F.A., Theatre Studies, 2019) joins the Professional Training Company at Actors Theatre of Louisville. This program guides talented and motivated early-career theatre professionals to undertake a nine-month long training program that combines practical experience with professional development opportunities.

Jacques Colimon (B.A., Theatre and Dance, 2014) joins the ensemble for the new series The Society, now streaming on Netflix. 

Andrew Aaron Valdez (B.F.A., Theatre Studies, 2017) has been named one of Cleveland Public Theatre's 2019/2020 Premiere Fellows. The Fellowship includes a cash award, with additional funds available for projects, professional development and access to space, equipment and other assets.

Tamara Johnson (B.F.A., Studio Art, 2007), founded Sweet Pass Sculpture Park, which presents "May Show: Looms," an exhibition in collaboration with SMU's Pollock Gallery and organized by Austin art collective, Partial Shade. Sweet Pass will also be showing a recent film by Virgina Lee Montgomery and a site-responsive painting by Timothy Harding.