Alumni in the News

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.

Gay Gaddis (B.F.A., Studio Art, 1977) is hosting a series of live leadership webinars between July 15 and Aug. 12. The series, “Eating Risk for Breakfast” includes advice found in Gaddis' book, Cowgirl Power: How to Kick Ass in Business & Life. Gaddis is the founder and CEO of T3, an Austin-based advertising agency.

Sean Meyers (A.D., Woodwinds, 2020) alongside Vanguard Reed Quintet, release a debut album in June. The full-length album, Red Leaf Collection, features six world-premiere recordings of compositions for reed quintet. The ensemble has won Silver Medal at the 2018 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, Second Prize at the 2017 Briggs Chamber Music Competition and Honorable Mention at the 2019 Plowman Chamber Music Competition. Photo by Curtis Noborikawa III

Constance Cortez (M.A., Art History, 1986) received a 2020 Digital Extension Grant from the American Council of Learned Societies for her work "Generative Rhizomes: Extending Digital Discovery of Mexican American Art,” the first national-level digital portal focusing on Mexican American Art.

Tamara Johnson (B.F.A., Studio Art, 2007) is set to present the Nasher Sculpture Center's Nasher Windows exhibition, a new series sited within the Nasher’s entrance vestibule on Flora Street, from May 22 through May 27. As an homage to the Nasher collection, Johnson created a piece titled "Deviled Egg and Okra Column.” The work is a nod to Brancusi’s "Endless Column,” and features a mirroring tower of stacked deviled eggs and pickled okra, cast in resin and spanning the height of the vestibule space. Photo by Trey Burns

Natalie Svacina (B.A., Art History, 2006) was awarded the National Art Education Association’s 2020 Western Region Museum Education Art Educator Award. She was recognized for her exemplary contributions, service and achievements. She currently serves at the Education + Residency Director at the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft in Houston, Texas, where she oversees all of HCCC’s educational programming, including hands-on activities, workshops, camps and the artist residency program. Photo by Andrew Buckler