CONNECTIONS College of Fine Arts Fall 2020 Edition
TS R A E H T R O CENTER F
NEWS FROM THE DEAN Department of Theatre Receives National Accreditation The University of Montevallo’s Department of Theatre has received accreditation from the National Association of Schools of Theatre (NAST), meaning every visual and performing arts department at the University is now nationally accredited. Montevallo joins only about 190 other schools across the nation in holding the prestigious NAST accreditation. NAST voted to admit UM as an associate member in August following a comprehensive and rigorous review of the College’s Department of Theatre. “Institutional arts accreditation in theatre by NAST is important because it means that a student wishing to study theatre will know that our Department of Theatre — from the faculty to the curriculum to the facilities — meets and exceeds national standards of excellence for that study,”
said Dr. Steve Peters, dean of the UM College of Fine Arts. “They can also know for sure that the University itself is fully committed to such a high level of excellence because it could not have been achieved without that institutional commitment. Now, for the first time in our college’s history, all the visual and performing arts departments in the College of Fine Arts are nationally accredited.” The accreditation is a testament to the quality and dedication of the faculty in the Department of Theatre. “In receiving institutional accreditation in theatre by NAST, I appreciate the recognition of our ongoing efforts by faculty, staff and administration to ensure that theatre students are receiving an excellent education that prepares them not only for careers, but a meaningful life,” said Dr. David Callaghan, chair of the UM Department of Theatre.
Center for the Arts Earns Building Birmingham Award The newly opened Center for the Arts has been selected as one of the most important construction projects in the Birmingham metropolitan area. The Birmingham Business Journal honored the Center for the Arts on its 2020 Building Birmingham list, which recognizes projects based on their impact, degree of difficulty and unique offerings. “The College of Fine Arts is truly honored that its new Center for the Arts is among the awardees of this prestigious award,” said Dr. Steve Peters, dean of the College of Fine Arts. “Since the Center is uniquely designed to be a one-of-a-kind collaboratory, it brings students from all our departments together for innovative and creative practices that rely on teamwork and group creativity. The students are excited this fall to be the first cohort to begin exploring the many possibilities the Center offers.” The 36,750-square-foot building is located at the intersection of Oak Street and North Boundary Street, and is unique among collegiate facilities in the state of Alabama. It brings together many academic disciplines previously spread out
across multiple buildings on the UM campus, and serves as a prime resource for the Montevallo community and Shelby County. The Center serves students in the College of Fine Arts departments of art, communication, music and theatre and there are plans for the college to add a dance program. It features two performance venues, an art gallery, a large social space, a concessions area, a digital fabrication lab, design labs with animation software, multiple classrooms, theatre faculty and college offices, vocal performance rehearsal rooms, a dance studio, state-of-the-art production shops, a public pocket park, a sculpture garden, an outdoor commons area and adjacent ground-level parking. The Center for the Arts was also designed to provide services to the University and community as a whole and will have a positive economic and cultural impact on the entire community. No large events will be held in the Center for the Arts or on the UM campus until the threat posed by COVID-19 has subsided.
2
3D Printing Face Shields for Hospitals A group of employees at UM put their expertise and resources to work for the state’s health care industry in an effort to combat the COVID-19 pandemic this past spring. After reading about people using 3D printers to create personal protective equipment to donate to health care facilities, Michael Price, the Digital Media and Emerging Technologies Librarian at Carmichael Library, knew he could do the same. He originally reached out to Shelby Baptist Medical Center in Alabaster, which said it would be happy to accept the 3D printed face masks. Price then contacted his colleague Kyle Moore, associate professor of theatre, who also had access to a 3D printer. Together, the two used their expertise to create a plan to help the hospital by 3D printing as many protective face masks as possible for Shelby Baptist. Price and Moore received funding from Dr. Steve Peters, dean of College of Fine Arts, Dr. David Callaghan, chair of the Department of Theatre, Carmichael Library Director Dr. Charlotte Ford and Associate Professor of Theatre Emily Gill, who helped to secure material to use for straps on the face masks. The group expanded its efforts to include health care facilities in Decatur, Huntsville and Mobile. “I am so grateful for the way our University family has stepped up to help others in a time of crisis,” said Dr. John W. Stewart III, UM president. “Michael and his colleagues are to be commended for their creativity and leadership related to the mask shortage. I am very proud of them.”
Above: Kyle Moore, assistant professor of theatre, models a 3D printed face shield; below left: The Digital Media Lab and 3D Print Lab located in Carmichael Library.
3
NEW DEPARTMENT LEADERSHIP The College of Fine Arts is pleased to welcome two new chairs. Dr. Sherry Ford succeeds Dr. Randy Scott as the new department chair of Communication and Misty Bennett succeeds Scott Stephens as the new chair of Art. The College of Fine Arts Department of Communication is pleased to welcome Dr. Sherry Ford, professor of communication studies, as the new department chair. Ford has been a member of the faculty since 2003. In recognition of her dedication to the provision of a quality education and her impact upon students through the teaching-learning process, she received the 2017 University of Montevallo National Alumni Association Outstanding Commitment to Teaching Award. She is an experienced college, campus and disciplinary leader who has worked with many important campus initiatives. Misty Bennett is a professor of art who has taught at the University of Montevallo since 2003. She holds a bachelor of fine arts degree in painting from the Savannah College of Art and Design (1996) and a master of fine arts degree in drawing and painting from the University of Georgia (2002). She teaches all levels and media of painting classes and directs the concentration in painting. Bennett’s work has been exhibited across the Southeast, most recently in the Red Clay Survey at the Huntsville Museum of Art, the Hoover Public Library, The University of Alabama in Huntsville and the Tennessee Valley Art Museum. Her work is also featured in collections including the Carmichael Library, the College of Osteopathic Medicine in Dothan, Alabama, and the President’s Collection at the University of Georgia. Her abstract paintings are inspired by natural forms, the meditative act of painting and the expressive power of color and texture. She lives in Vestavia Hills, Alabama, with her husband and two children.
4
New Faculty and Staff Dr. Stephanie Dean, assistant professor of interactive media, earned her M.A. and Ph.D. in computer mediated communications from HUMLab at Umea University in Sweden. Dean’s dissertation, Beyond the Blog (2013), examines how diverse websites build and maintain community online. Her scholarly work focuses on how digital technologies and immersive media are used to align with or against discourses that form our identities, policies and understandings of culture(s). Currently, Dean is exploring gender, race and social identity in virtual and augmented reality narratives. Before coming to the University of Montevallo, Dean developed and co-directed the Immersive Storytelling Lab at Middle Tennessee State University, as well as acted as faculty advisor for the MTSU esports varsity league. In 2019, Dean was recognized at Middle Tennessee State University for outstanding use of technology in the classroom. When Dean isn’t teaching courses in digital sociology, media management, script writing or 360/VR video production, you can find her exploring the Southeast by camper conversion, running through caverns or racing the occasional reindeer. Danielle Deavours is an instructor of multimedia journalism at the University of Montevallo, and a Ph.D. candidate at The University of Alabama. Deavours specializes in media sociology, nonverbal communication, crisis communication and journalistic practice. She is an Emmy and Murrow award-winning journalist with over a decade of professional experience in broadcast journalism. She has also worked in nonprofit communication for the American Heart Association, American Red Cross and UAB Medicine. She currently serves as the communication chair and research co-chair for the Emerging Media and Technology Division for the Broadcast Education Association, as well as the student hard news coordinator for the BEA Festival of Arts. Deavours currently lives with her husband and daughter Skylar in Hoover, Alabama. danielledeavours.com; Twitter: @danielledeavour Daniel Vest, instructor of video and audio engineering and Strong Hall director of technical operations, holds a B.S. from the University of Montevallo (2012). He is currently pursuing an M.A. from Stephen F. Austin State University. Vest has worked as a freelance subcontractor for Fox Sports, NBC Sports, ESPN, SEC Network and Showtime Sports acting as a technical utility and camera operator since 2012. He also developed extensive expertise during his position as a multimedia producer for WKGA 97.5 FM and WAXC-TV 3/10 in Alexander City, Alabama. Vest holds certifications in Extron Audio/Visual technologies and a Level Two Audinate Dante Audio certification. Vest has held the position of video production support technician here at the University of Montevallo since 2017. In his new position, he will teach two mass communication courses each semester and serve as the operations manager of Strong Hall.
5
Faculty
RETIRED
Dr. Randall K. Scott
After 22 years of service to the UM College of Fine Arts, Dr. Randall K. Scott, professor and chair of the Department of Communication, retired June 1. Scott joined UM in 1998 as chair of the Department of Communication Arts, which at the time was composed of the speech communication, mass communication and theatre majors. Scott’s mandate from then-Dean Frank McCoy was to reorganize and reinvigorate the department, which was suffering low enrollment. After extensive personnel and structural changes, enrollment slowly increased to viable levels in all three majors. Scott taught for a total of 40 years at the university level. Scott praised the UM communication faculty, and said each contributed significantly to the success of the programs. In retirement, Scott looks forward to spending more time with his wife, Marc’a, and their three dogs: Ra’sco, Gus and Harper. He plans to begin writing full time, starting with his current project, “Like a Shadow That Does Not Depart. The Story of Ananda: Buddha’s Chief-of-Staff.”
6
After nearly 31 years of service to the UM College of Fine Arts, Karen Graffeo, professor of art and director of the University’s photography program, retired on Aug. 1. Graffeo was the recipient of a Tanne Foundation award in 2014 and was awarded a Fulbright Senior Scholar appointment to Romania in 2013. In 2005 she was named University Scholar at UM for her long term (1999-present) documentary photography work in Roma (Gypsy) communities and refugee encampments in Europe. Graffeo is an active multi-media artist in photography, performance and installation. She has had numerous national and international solo exhibitions. Karen Graffeo Her exhibition “Let Us Now Praise the Roma” has been exhibited in Paris, Italy, New York and Romania. Her work has received grants from the Alabama State Council on the Arts and the Andy Warhol Foundation through Space One Eleven Contemporary Arts Center. Graffeo’s work is included in public and private collections in Japan, Paris, New York, San Francisco, Ireland, Italy, Hungary and Birmingham, and was published in Aperture Magazine. She has had and arranged numerous exhibitions in Cuba. Graffeo plans to continue her artistic endeavors and remain engaged with the University during retirement.
After 37 years of service to the UM College of Fine Arts, Scott Stephens, professor and chair of the Art Department, retired Aug. 1. He joined UM to teach printmaking in what was then a small department. He also taught courses in drawing, design, photography and the history of photography. Stephens is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Distinguished Teacher Award, the University Scholar Award Scott Stephens and the Outstanding Commitment to Teaching Award. Fond of saying “Art is big at Montevallo,” he is especially well-known for large-format printmaking. In accord with his preference for big things, he helped to grow a small art program into one of the largest academic programs on campus. Over the course of his service, Stephens served in many leadership roles including two years as interim dean of the College of Fine Arts and as chair of the art department for 12 years. Maintaining a rigorous art practice, exhibiting in regional, national and international exhibitions, his work has been collected by more than fifty museums and corporations. In retirement, Stephens looks forward to more time with his wife, Suzie, and daughters, Hannah and Lilly. He also looks forward to making many more big prints and continuing to participate in the collaborative Cahaba Watershed Project. 7
• • • • •
Create Career Pathways
Arts Administration Digital Filmmaking Theatre Design/Technology Graphic Design Broadcast Production
• • • • •
Social Media Administration Public Relations Jazz Band Music Studies Musical Theatre
Scholarships available. Learn more at MONTEVALLO.EDU/COFA
STUDENT Success Communication Studies sophomore Chandler Mason Brocksmith was elected to serve as the 2020 Alpha Kappa Lambda Fraternity National Executive Council undergraduate member. Communication Studies junior Camryn Denver was selected to receive the Montgomery Alumnae Panhellenic Council Scholarship. Michaila Franklin ’20 (B.A., mass communication) interned during her final semester at WVTM 13 as a reporter, producer and editor.
presented in the Chichester Black Box Theatre. BFA theatre students Alex Binion, Nate Blakley, Taylor Chatman, Amber Hayes and Cadley Jackson participated in a Unified Senior Showcase for agents and casting directors at The Growing Studio in New York City. As a result of the showcase, the students received multiple meetings with agents as well as immediate auditions for a new rock musical and the National Tour of the Broadway musical “The Book of Mormon.”
Communication Studies juniors Austin Frederick and Camryn Denver were selected for Order of Omega Greek Honor Society. Amber Hayes ’20 (BFA theatre) completed a nineday workshop in New York City with The Growing Studio’s LINK program. This program selects 15 students from over 500 national auditions and immerses them in the professional preparation for television, film and theatre. The workshop culminated with a showcase for agents and casting directors. Communication Studies junior Caleb Jones will be headed to Washington, D.C., as a ProPublica 2020 Diversity Scholarship recipient. John-Chris Ward ’20 (B.S. theatre) wrote and directed an original play, “Thorns, Roots and Vines” about the student experience at UM, which was
8
DEPARTMENT Spotlight AWARDS & HONORS
campus, ironically, he focused on the theme of his work: loss. Under the guidance of Dr. Scott Meyer, he explored new techniques for his topic. After the loss of his grandfather, the poignance of his grandparents’ wedding picture made it the subject of his search: a search made more ironic staged on a deserted UM campus. Karen Graffeo and Dr. Catherine Walsh received a Green Fund award for their special project titled, “Blue Nature: A Colloquium.” Graffeo also received an award for her special project titled, “Reusable Metal Frames for Art Exhibitions.” Dr. Jay Cofield’s documentary “Aldrich, Henry’s Hometown” won Best Documentary Short at the Erie International Film Festival and an Award of Merit at the Best Shorts Competition.
UM Visiting Artist Tung Pin-Yuan experimenting with screened images onto clay surfaces. “My work is trying to talk about ‘disappearing,’ unknown and ‘the situation that we cannot catch.’” — Tung Pin-Yuan
COFA was honored to host Taiwanese visiting artist Tung Pin-Yuan during spring 2020. Pin-Yuan is a graduate student from the prestigious Tainan National University of the Arts in Taiwan. He is the second ceramics artist from the prestigious university. As COVID-19 forced UM into teaching classes remotely, Pin-Yuan continued his work on campus alone. Isolated on the empty
Dr. Sally Bennett Hardig and Dr. Sherry G. Ford, were awarded a 2019-2020 Joint Learning Agreement and a research grant from the Kettering Foundation to support their research project titled: “Exploring the Role of the Communication Studies Curriculum in Shaping Students’ Awareness of Deliberative Democracy.” This yearlong project will investigate how the communication studies curriculum can help students learn the proper, ethical use of rhetoric and interpersonal communication skills to positively affect the democratic processes. Dr. Raymond R. Ozley was selected by the UM Faculty Senate to receive the 2020 University of Montevallo Faculty Service Award. Continued on page 10
MEYER HONORED WITH SOLO EXHIBITION IN TAIWAN
Above left: “The Crucible As Iconic Vessel” solo exhibition by UM Art professor Dr. Scott Meyer at the Yingge Museum of Ceramic Art in Taipei, Taiwan, Feb. 21-June 1; above right: Meyer lining up one of his wall pieces during installation.
9
In February, just prior to growing COVID-19 concerns in the U.S., Dr. Scott Meyer traveled to Taiwan for the installation of his solo exhibition at the Yingge Museum of Ceramic Art in Taipei. Each year the Yingge hosts between two and four international exhibitions. Selected by a panel of curators, Meyer’s “The Crucible As Iconic Vessel” presented 17 of his ceramic sculptures. Taiwan’s early detection of the virus and well-practiced response was impressive as Meyer lectured, critiqued graduate students and toured Taiwan on his two-week visit.
Department Spotlight continued from page 9 Dr. Tiffany R. Wang, associate professor of communication studies, was elected first vice president of the Alabama Council of University Faculty Presidents. Wang also started a term as the executive director for the Central States Communication Association on July 1, 2020. Dr. Sally Bennett Hardig will take her sabbatical during the fall 2020 term. A member of the Communication Studies faculty at UM since 2002, Hardig plans to undertake a project to evaluate the implementation of deliberative communication in communication classrooms as a means of addressing shared community problems, with the goal of publishing findings in a book. This project is a continuation of her collaborative partnership with the Kettering Foundation.
at the University of Oxford and was organized by the “Earth, Sea, Sky” international environmental humanities research network. Walsh also participated in the Virtual Day of Digital Learning organized by the Digital and Multimedia Committee of the Renaissance Society of America. The workshop was convened via video conference. Walsh co-led the session “Data Organization and Visualization for Beginners,” and delivered a presentation, “Mapping Sculpture, 2015-2020,” on her digital mapping project.
Ryan Foster, instructor of art, received a promotion to senior instructor of art. Foster has been named the Gallery Director by the Department of Art. He will oversee all exhibitions in the new Center for the Arts Poole Gallery and the Gallery at Bloch Hall. Kyle Moore, assistant professor of theatre, received tenure and a promotion to associate professor. Dr. David Callaghan, chair of the Department of Theatre, served as a judge for the Alabama State Trumbauer Festival.
PRESENTATIONS, EXHIBITS, TOURS & SPECIAL EVENTS The Mass Communication program hosted high school juniors and seniors from several area schools in November 2019 for the second annual Exploring Mass Communication Day.
Mass Communication’s Media Day 2020 engaged 30 local media and public relations professionals, including many UM alumni. The event included a networking fair and panel discussions. Mass Communication’s new Alumni Club held a reception during College Night for alumni to learn about a new scholarship initiative. The MCAC has started fundraising to endow a scholarship that will provide one Broadcast Production and one Multimedia Journalism student with a $500 award. Thanks to a generous donor, the MCAC was able to award scholarships this spring before reaching the endowment goal. Jamie Holdsambeck and Jada Tubbs are the recipients of the inaugural Mass Communication Alumni Club scholarships.
Kodály Workshop July 2018.
Dr. Catherine Walsh attended the “Earth” symposium and workshop, where she participated in the land/ landscape workshop session and, along with two other panelists, offered reflections on the two-day event in the closing round-table discussion. The conference was held
As the only Kodály Certification program in Alabama, the University of Montevallo Kodály Institute (UMKI), directed by Dr. Becky Halliday, provided an exceptional online professional development opportunity to equip music educators with tools and resources to enrich their curriculum, strengthen learning outcomes, and foster best teaching practices. Participants in the week-long workshop realized they have the unique opportunity to reach beyond the classroom and into the home and community. They learned to explore ways of fostering musical, social and emotional growth within a new framework of instruction. Daily topics were grounded in 10
Kodály’s vision for music education and included tools for incorporating the family into the musical development of students, navigating the future of music education, teacher self-care and the importance of play in fostering social and emotional growth. Instructors for this unique workshop were Jeremy Howard of Kentucky, Dr. Rachel Gibson from Massachusetts, Dr. Michele Paynter Paise from Kentucky and Halliday. UMKI is endorsed by the Organization of American Kodály Educators. The COMS 499 Senior Seminar class, taught by Dr. Raymond R. Ozley, hosted the second annual Exploring Communication Studies Day for prospective majors to learn more about how to ignite their passion with communication studies.
Department of Music will update its event offerings on the College of Fine Arts Performances and Events webpage when it is safe to perform live or when it plans to stream its music shows. The University of Montevallo Concert Choir was selected to perform at the American Choral Directors Association Southern Division Conference in March 2020. More than 100 choirs submitted applications vying for the prestigious honor. The UM Concert Choir under the direction of Dr. Melinda Doyle was selected by blind peer review, based on recordings and submitted materials. The Concert Choir was one of two choirs selected to represent the state of Alabama.
PERFORMANCES Due to safety concerns about COVID-19, the College of Fine Arts Performance and Event Schedule for fall 2020 is offering a limited season of events. The Department of Art is pleased to open the Poole Gallery in the new Center for the Arts. Due to COVID-19 safety precautions, no opening receptions will be held this fall, though exhibitions will still take place. Each exhibition will include a virtual gallery tour, accessible on the department webpage, and artist gallery talks will be live streamed. Please check back for specific times and dates. Thank you for helping to keep everyone’s health top priority. The Department of Communication will offer all of its planned public events in a virtual format for the remainder of 2020. Details will be communicated as they begin to take form. The Department of Theatre will not present full productions. Check for possible limited performance events including play readings, especially in outdoor venues, throughout the semester. Stay tuned for announcements on spring 2021 productions pending monitoring of the ongoing health situation. With the continued threat of COVID-19, it is unclear if any concerts, recitals or other events can be safely performed with an audience in-house this semester. The
Dr. Roderick George was the featured guest tenor soloist in a performance of Nathaniel Dett’s “Chariot Jubilee” with the Aeolians of Oakwood University, conducted by Jason Ferdinand at the Eighth National Conference of the National Collegiate Choral Organization held at the University of Maryland, and at the 2020 Calvin Symposium on Worship in Grand Rapids, Michigan. George was also the tenor soloist in performances of Handel’s “Messiah” with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra, Shoals Symphony of the University of North Alabama and two performances for “Columbus Sings Messiah” held at Annunciation Catholic Church in Columbus, Mississippi. In January, he made his Nashville Symphony Continued on page 12 11
Performances continued from page 11 debut as the featured soloist in Adolphus Hailstork’s “I Will Lift Up Mine Eyes” for the annual Let Freedom Sing Concert. He also presented “American Poetry in Song,” highlighting the writings of Langston Hughes, at Susquehanna University and was a featured guest artist for the “Lift Every Voice” concert at Indiana University-South Bend in February. UM’s Department of Theatre was one of five theatre departments invited to participate in the Alabama Shakespeare Festival’s new Student Playwright Initiative, “10X10.” Eight UM theatre majors participated and worked with their staff to write a short play. JohnChris Ward’s play was one of five selected overall to be presented at Alabama Shakespeare Festival’s Southern Writers New Play Festival, which was canceled due to COVID-19.
PUBLICATIONS Dr. Scott Meyer had his article “Implied Dynamics: The Ceramic Sculpture of Kenneth Baskin” accepted for publication by Ceramics Monthly magazine, the world’s leading journal for ceramic arts. Dr. Tiffany Wang, junior Communication Studies major Raina Verser and junior Art major/Communication Studies minor Laura Dudley had a paper titled “Multilevel Communicative Resilience: Exploring the Communicative Processes of Coping with Parental Alienation” selected as the top paper in the Interpersonal and Family Communication Interest Group at the Central States Communication Association Convention. Wang also had a panel titled “Exploring Internationalizing the Basic Course: Crossing Borders and Making Breakthroughs” selected as the Melissa Beall Top Panel in the Basic Course Interest Group at the convention. Dr. Tiffany R. Wang, Dr. Raymond R. Ozley, Dr. Sally Bennett Hardig, Dr. Sherry G. Ford and Rebecca Leach ’15 (B.A., communication studies) published a co-authored article titled “Rhetorical and Relational Turning Points in the Communication Studies Major” in the Journal of the Communication, Speech & Theatre Association of North Dakota.
The Department of Theatre presented “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” written by William Shakespeare and directed by Michael Walker in February 2020. Set in a gay night club in New York City, this adaptation explored gender, identity and love. “The course of true love never did run smooth.” — William Shakespeare
Dr. Tiffany R. Wang published a co-authored article with Dr. Kristina Scharp and Kyle Kubler (University of Washington) titled “Individual and Community Practices for Constructing Communicative Resilience: Exploring the Communicative Processes of Coping with Parental Alienation” in the Journal of Applied Communication Research. Dr. David Callaghan co-edited the winter edition of the peer reviewed section of Society of Directors and Choreographers Journal.
12
BLUE Colloquium
The Blue Nature Colloquium brought together scholars, experts and students from the UM community and beyond to explore blue ideas, materials and spaces. Above: Artist Esteban “Tatico” Jiménez, right, talks with University of Montevallo Professor of Art Karen Graffeo and Flagler Arts & Technology Village’s Doug McCraw about his piece in the “Azul/Blue” exhibit in UM’s interdisciplinary colloquium. Left: Karen Graffeo holds the Blue Nature program. Below: Roundtable on Past, Present, and Future of Local Water Resources.
13
WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Nicole Anderson ’20 (B.S. communication studies) accepted a position as a communication specialist for Shipt. Rebecca Aparicio ’07 (BFA theatre), New York City, was the assistant director on a production of “Gloria” at the American Repertory Theatre in Boston.
gree in communication management from The University of Alabama. He also started a new position as director of experience at D’Youville College in Buffalo, New York. Lillie Childers ’17 (B.S. communication studies) began a new job as a legal assistant at Baker Donelson for a team of litigation attorneys. Dylan Dagnan ’19 (BFA theatre) worked on productions at Birmingham Children’s Theatre. Julia Davis ’20 (B.S. communication studies) was accepted to the Master of Arts in Advertising and Public Relations Program at The University of Alabama. She was also featured as a panelist on the University of Montevallo Homegrown Heroines panel held March 4. Brittany Campbell Foster ’18 (B.S. communication studies) started a new position as a customer care advocate for Daxko.
Janessa Mobley Barrios ’12 (BFA art) is the creative director at Jeunesse, a global direct selling company providing exclusive skin care and nutritional products, headquartered in Lake Mary, Florida. She and her team design the product packaging, branding, logos, print/ digital marketing tools, signage and stage graphics for company events around the globe. Over the years, her role has taken her to Singapore, Macau, Thailand, Italy and Brazil. Barrios’ work for the company has been featured three times in Graphic Design USA Package Design Awards. Outside of her career, she enjoys yoga, vegetarian cooking, cocktails and escaping to the Virgin Islands. She is married to fellow Montevallo alumnus, Jordan Barrios, CPA ’10. The couple resides in the greater Orlando area with their cat, Winslow.
John Englebert ’20 (B.S. communication studies) accepted a position as a communication specialist for Shipt. Gregory L. Funderburg ’06 (B.S. mass communication) received the Chattanooga Business Elite Award for 2020. This award honors someone who has gone above and beyond to help others.
Katherine Broadhead ’20 (B.S. communication studies) accepted a position of preprocessor for FirstBank Mortgage. Camryn Brooks ’20 (B.A. art and history) was accepted into the Masters of Library Information program at The University of Alabama. Zelma Mae Cable ’20 (B.S. communication studies) had her research paper selected for the Central States Communication Association Undergraduate Honors Research Conference. Giselle Casadaban ’17 (B.A. communication studies) started a new position as the marketing and communications manager for Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama. Eric Cederholm ’12 (B.A. communication studies) completed his second master’s degree. He earned a master’s de-
Kelly Garrett ’20 (B.A. mass communication) accepted a position as morning news producer for WTOC 11 in Savannah, Georgia. Hannah Irelan ’20 (BFA art) has been awarded a Smithsonian Internship in the National Postal Curatorial Department. Ashton Irvin ’19 (B.S. theatre) participated on the tech run crew for the National Tour of the Broadway musical “A Bronx Tale” in fall 2019. Kacie Slaughter Kilpatrick ’09 (B.A. communication studies) is the new University of Montevallo National Alumni Association Junior Alumni Board president.
14
Christie Johnson Lawless ’17 (B.S. communication studies) completed her master’s in Communication Studies from The University of Alabama.
studies) was selected as the recipient of the 2020 C&IS Award for Outstanding Dissertation at The University of Alabama.
Rebecca Leach ’15 (B.A. communication studies) published a co-authored article with Dr. Heewon Kim (Arizona State University) titled “The Role of Digitally-Enabled Employee Voice in Fostering Positive Change and Affective Commitment in Centralized Organizations” in Communication Monographs.
Hayley Suzanne Sugg ’15 (B.S. mass communication) began a new job as associate digital editor for Allrecipes. Camilla Summerford ’19 (B.S. communication studies) was accepted to graduate school at the University of Cincinnati.
Jessica Ledford ’18 (B.S. communication studies) was accepted into the Ph.D. program in Communication at George Mason University. Michael Loman (BFA theatre) performed for Carnival Cruise Lines. Kaley Martin ’16 (B.S. mass communication) began a job as broadcast producer at The University of Alabama and was accepted into the Ph.D. in Communication and Information Sciences program. Shelley McMoy ’16 (BFA theatre) and Michael Cleary ’16 (BFA theatre) performed in the fall tour production of “A Christmas Carol” by the Nebraska Theatre Caravan. Roosevelt Mendez ’16 (B.A. communication studies) accepted a full time position as the assistant director for admissions at the University of Idaho. Jonathan Mendoza ’18 (B.A. communication studies) started a new position as an amateur licensing representative for Music Theatre International. Paris Nelson ’17 (B.S. communication studies) earned her M.A. in Communication at the University of Kentucky. Dr. Harrison Perkins ’10 (B.S. communication arts) published an edited book titled “Presbyterianism: Its History, Doctrine, Government, and Worship” with Log College Press. David Pohler ’18 (BFA theatre) performed as Woof in a workshop production of “Hair” in New York City. Julian Robinson (BFA theatre), Los Angeles, edited the new documentary “You Don’t Got These” about Sneaker Culture on quibli.com. Jamie Schor ’07 (BFA theatre) works on the marketing staff of Red Mountain Theatre Company. Xavier Scruggs ’18 (B.A. political science with a communication studies minor) was accepted to the Ph.D. in Communication program at the University of Missouri. Kaitlyn Shehee ’19 (B.S. communication studies) published her poem “An Ode to Humor” in the literary magazine Pathos. Dr. Lindsey Sherrill ’07, MBA ’15 (B.S. communication
Dustin Timbrook ’06 (BFA art) and his wife, Molly, founded Timbrook Toys, located at Lowe Mill in Huntsville, Alabama. Their board game, Hedge Lord, has sold more than 425 handmade copies, using Dustin’s gift for aesthetics and Molly’s talent for storytelling. Hedge Lord was featured during a segment of the new Alabama Public Television program “Monograph” last year, and has been written about in publications from AL.com to Tennessee Valley Weekend. They also make other toys and have a selection of #CraftingtheCurve activities, designed to keep kids of all ages busy and creative during the COVID-19 pandemic, available for free on their website timbrook.toys. Celia Venable’19 (B.A. communication studies) began a new job as an admissions counselor at the University of Montevallo. Kalyn Wolfe’s ’10 (B.S. mass communication) reporting on the deadly shooting at the Navy base in Pensacola made the front page of the New York Times. Christana Yancy ’02 (BFA theatre) performed in a mainstage production as part of her yearlong internship at the Black Rep Theatre in St. Louis.
15