Alumni in the News

Fadi Skeiker (Ph.D., Theatre, 2009) is currently assistant dean for student affairs in the College of Arts and Design and assistant professor at the University of Jordan. In addition to his work in academia, he has continued to lead practice-based research projects in the field of applied theatre in Jordan, using theatre as a tool to address issues related to women, youth and social change.

Alan E. Hicks (DMA, 2009) authored a book entitled Singer and Actor: Acting Technique for the Operatic Performer. The book was published by Amadeus Press in paperback in 2011 and ebook formats in 2012 and contains contributions from Professor Franchelle S. Dorn.

Alexandre Dossin (DMA, Music, 2001) is a tenured faculty member at the University of Oregon. His recordings include: Russian Transcriptions, to be included in Naxos' ongoing international series "Complete Piano Works by Franz Liszt," which was released in July 2012; Rachmaninoff: Prelude in c# minor, op. 3 no. 2, Preludes op. 23; recording and editorial work, Schirmer Performance Editions, released in November 2012; Rachmaninoff:  Preludes op. 32; recording and editorial work, Schirmer Performance Editions, to be released in 2013; and Leonard Bernstein: Piano Works, Naxos American Classics Series, to be released late 2013. A full discography is available at www.dossin.net.
 

Don Bacigalupi (M.A., Art History,1985; Ph.D., Art History,1993) has been named president of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. In this newly created position, Don will serve as a member of the board of directors and will advance the Museum’s national and global special initiatives and work closely with the board and staff leadership.

Alumna Sonya Berg (MFA, 2010) opens her one-person exhibition at Tiny Park Gallery in Austin, TX on Friday, March 1, 2013. Running through March 30th, the exhibition will showcase Berg's mixed media works.

The opening reception is on Friday, March 1st from 7pm to 11pm. Tiny Park Gallery is located at 1101 Navasota Street and is open 12pm to 5pm on Saturdays and by appointment.

Congratulations to alum Justin Tucker (BA, Recording Technology, 2011), former Texas Longhorn and current kicker for the Baltimore Ravens. Rookie Tucker hit two crucial field goals in the fourth quarter as the Baltimore Ravens survived a furious second-half rally by the San Francisco 49ers en route to a 34-31 victory and the Super Bowl title on Sunday, February 3rd.

Natalia Anciso, MFA (BA, Studio Art, 2008), will be exhibiting at the Vincent Price Art Museum in Los Angeles as part of the 2013 MexiCali Biennial, titled "Cannibalism in the New World." The Opening Reception will be held on Saturday, January 19 from 6 to 9 p.m., and the exhibition will be open until April 13, 2013.

Elliott Forrest (BA, Drama, 1979) is a familiar voice for fans of classical music in New York City. He can be heard regularly on WQXR, Classical 105.9. Each year he produces an annual radio reading of A Christmas Carol and this year directed Brian Cox as Ebenezer Scrooge. Last summer, he produced an extremely successful large scale concert with the Philadelphia Orchestra, and a new production will be created for summer 2013. Forrest has also signed a contract to create a production for the Houston Symphony in 2014. Additionally, he recently signed a deal with Simon and Schuster to write a book about classical music with Alec Baldwin.

Mary Dave Blackman (Ph.D., Music Education, 1989) has published a textbook for music appreciation courses. An Introduction to Art Music is an eBook that uses listening materials from the Classical Music Library, an online resource with more than 500 university subscribers. The text is published by Kendall Hunt and approaches material from the point of view of a music educator, not a musicologist.

Alumna Teal Triggs (BFA, Studio Art, 1979 and MA, Art History, 1983), was recently appointed as Associate Dean of the College of Communication at the Royal College of Art (RCA) in London, UK. She is also on faculty at the RCA as a professor of graphic design.