Alumni in the News

Stephanie Chiarello Noppenberg (B.A., Dance, 1998) will direct, produce, write for and host a live political comedy satire show at Austin’s Institution Theater called “Over the Lege” running Sept. 9 through Oct. 1. “Over the Lege” exposes the shenanigans of the Texas Legislature through song, dance, sketch and improv. She also performs in the musical improv troupe "That Racket".

Jonas Criscoe (B.F.A., Studio Art, 2006) has work featured in The 3rd Coast National juried exhibition at K space Contemporary in Corpus Christi. This year’s juror Sharon Kapriva reviewed 611 images submitted by 193 artists and selected 59 works of art by 59 artists for the 2016 exhibition. 

Erin Cunningham (M.F.A., Studio Art, 2007) has work featured in a two-person exhibition at ICOSA Collective in Austin. The show, "Figure/heads" features the work of Cunningham and David Bae. In their respective media, the two artists present their own distinct interpretations of the physical/psychological aspects of the figure. The exhibition runs through Sept. 23.

Khristaan Villela (M.A., Art History, 1993; Ph.D., Art History, 2001) was appointed director of the Museum of International Folk Art in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Prior to this he was professor of art history at the Santa Fe University of Art and Design (2011–2016), and the Eugene V. Thaw Professor of Art History and Director of the Thaw Art History Center at the College of Santa Fe (1998–2009).

Eden Lew (B.F.A., Design, 2014) recently completed a year-long thesis report and presentation as part of the M.F.A. products of design program at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. Her thesis, “Masterminds & The Art of Misbehaving,” examines the correlation between designers and criminal masterminds like thieves, con men and bank robbers.

After teaching in The Department of Music at Tumaini University Makumira for two years, Emmanuel Kaghondi (M.M., Music and Human Learning, 2014) received admission to the University of Minnesota for the Ph.D. in Music Education program in fall 2016. His research focus is in multi-cultural music education. Upon graduation, Kaghondi plans to return to Tanzania to continue teaching music.

Vincent Coleman (B.F.A., Studio Art, 1998) recently self-published a 50-page surreal, stream-of-consciousness comic book entitled Lightning Jim. The entire comic is available online.

Adam Poncio (B.A., Drama, 1986), an attorney Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in both Labor and Employment and Civil Appellate Law, has been recognized by San Antonio Scene Magazine as one of the Best S.A. Lawyers of 2016 in the area of Labor and Employment Law.

Catherine Ann Jones (B.F.A., Drama, 1965) received the Nautilus Book Award for Heal Your Self with Writing; her latest publication is a one-woman play about H.D. (Hilda Doolittle)'s analysis and friendship with Sigmund Freud in Vienna, 1933. Jones will perform her play in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on Aug. 4, and in Santa Barbara, California, on Dec. 3. The play is available on amazon and Kindle.

Brian Hunt (B.A., Studio Art, 1991) successfully self-published his second book, Convergence Healing - Healing Pain With Energetic Love. It was picked up by Enliven Books, the new all-holistic imprint from Atria Books and Simon & Schuster.