Alumni in the News

Luis Rodriguez (B.M., Voice and Opera, 2010) was recently appointed operations manager for the Plano Symphony Orchestra in Plano, Texas. He continues to work as librarian and cover conductor for the Plano Symphony, as well as librarian for Irving Symphony Orchestra. Photo by Michal Dembinski

Audrey Bounds (B.A., Music, 2015) has joined Austin FC, The 27th Club in Major League Soccer, as the Director of Event Booking. Photo by Anne Claire Patterson

Writer Andrew Hinderaker’s (M.F.A., Playwriting, 2013) new series, Away, is now streaming on Netflix. The space drama follows a woman on the first human-led mission to Mars after leaving behind her husband and daughter. Photo courtesy of Netflix

Joni Zavitsanos (B.F.A., Studio Art, 1986) is creating an art memorial for the City of Houston, depicting more than 160 lives lost due to COVID-19. Photo by Diamantis Zavitsanos

Midori Samson (M.M., Bassoon Performance, 2016) is participating in the Peace Studio's 100 Offerings of Peace campaign with a musical arts piece entitled "Crystals (On Peace)."

In January 2021, Dallas Contemporary will open a newly created video by Ariel René Jackson (M.F.A., Studio Art, 2019.  Ariel René Jackson: Doubt & Imagination was commissioned by the show's curator, Emily Edwards (B.A., Art History, 2015). The video debuts a lyrical film essay, combining poetry, memoir and research overlaid with in-camera effects.  Film still courtesy of Ariel René Jackson

A group of alumni from the Department of Theatre and Dance collaborated recently on a new radio play. The creative team for Passage, a radio play by The Heartland Theatre Collective, includes Nicole Oglesby (B.A., Theatre, 2016), playwright and producer, directors Marian Kansas (B.A., Theatre, 2016) and Rosalind Faires (B.A., Theatre, 2015) and writer/performer Will Douglas.

Veronica Boccardo (B.F.A., Dance, 2017) was cast as the lead actress in her first debut acting work in the short dance film, Ms. Anita. The film has been selected to be streamed as part of the Amazon Prime video platform this year and has won awards at the Accolade Global Film Competition, The IndieFest Film Awards, the 53rd World-fest Houston International Film Festival and the Lift-off Global Network in London and Sydney. The film has been selected for the Lake Travis Film Festival. Photo by Aditya Ali

Gennifer Joe (B.F.A., Dance, 2019) was contracted as a paid dance artist with Tapestry Dance Company in Austin, Texas for their 2020-2021 season. Photo by Bianca Buentello

Gay Gaddis (B.F.A., Studio Art, 1977 ) has been inducted into the 2020 McCombs School of Business Hall of Fame. The award is the highest honor given by the McCombs School of Business recognizing individuals for their outstanding work and contributions to the business and educational community. Gaddis is the founder of The Think Tank (T3), an Austin-based advertising agency and marketing consultancy, which grew to be the largest advertising agency in the country owned by a woman.