Alumni in the News

Altin Brennan Sencalar  (B.M., Jazz Studies, 2017) played and arranged music for the 60th anniversary of Motown Records in Detroit, Michigan. He backed the Temptations, Jennifer Hudson, Neyo, Big Sean, and the Four Tops among others. He was also hired as Adjunct Professor of Music at Central Texas College in Killeen, Texas.  Photo by Sarah Milligan.

Mike Osborne (M.F.A., Studio Art, 2006) released Federal Triangle, a book of photographs from Washington, DC. Excerpts of the book have appeared in the New Republic, Wired Japan, Der Greif, and It’s Nice That. An exhibition of the work was presented in summer 2019 by Lora Reynolds Gallery. Photo by Mike Osborne

Dustin Lee Williams (B.A., Music, 2008) became associate counsel for South by Southwest where he works on legal issues in connection with the SXSW conference and Austin festivals. Photo by John Duah

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

James A. Davis (M.M., Composition, 1987) has released his second book with the University of Nebraska Press, “Maryland, My Maryland: Music and Patriotism During the American Civil War.” He has also been named editor for a series of essay collections and monographs from Routledge titled “Modern Musicology in the College Classroom.” Photo by Lori Deemer

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. 

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.

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. 

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.