THE MAGAZINE OF THE COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATION AND FINE ARTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS FALL 2017
NEW DEAN LOOKS TO CCFA’S FUTURE CHEIDT FAMILY MUSIC S CENTER CEREMONIAL GROUNDBREAKING
Otis Sanford
Teri Feigelson
Maestro Pu-qi Jiang
1 Dean’s Message
Dean Dr. Anne Hogan
2 Around CCFA
Executive Editor Kimberly Rogers
Overview of the latest college happenings
6 Student Spotlight
Contributing Writer Carol Morse
Bailey Clark, Department of Journalism and Strategic Media
8
Contributing Design UofM Marketing and Communication
New Dean Looks to CCFA’s Future
Photography Rhonda Cosentino, Trey Clark
12 Alumni Spotlight Teri Feigelson (BFA ’81), Department of Theatre & Dance
14 Scheidt Family Music Center Ceremonial Groundbreaking
17 In the Community Off-campus involvement of students, faculty and staff
21 News & Notes Brief updates from students, faculty, staff and alumni
24 In Memoriam
25 Donor Thanks
Advisory Board Ward Archer, Rikki Boyce, Dean Deyo, Art Gilliam, Herman Markell, Dana McKelvy, Charlotte Neal, Michael Osborn, Steve Pacheco, Mike Palazola, Chris Peck, Knox Philips, David Porter, Frank Ricks, Mickey Robinson, Rudi E. Scheidt, Linn Sitler, Jack Soden, Jimmy Tashie, Ron Walter, Judy McCown (Emeritae), Dr. Anne Hogan Published by University of Memphis College of Communication and Fine Arts 232 CFA Building, Memphis, TN 38152 901.678.2350 memphis.edu/ccfa
To submit story ideas, alumni updates, or other CCFA-related inquiries, please contact Executive Editor Kimberly Rogers at krogers@memphis.edu. The University of Memphis does not discriminate against students, employees, or applicants for admission or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, age, status as a protected veteran, genetic information, or any other legally protected class with respect to all employment, programs and activities sponsored by the University of Memphis. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding nondiscrimination policies: Michael Washington, Director for Institutional Equity, mswshng1@ memphis.edu, 156 Administration Building, 901.678.2799. The University of Memphis policy on nondiscrimination can be found at policies.memphis.edu/UM1381.htm. UOM044-FY1617/1M2C50 IMEC
DEAN’S MESSAGE The warm welcome that has been extended to me as the (relatively) new Dean of CCFA has certainly confirmed that southern hospitality is alive and well! It has been wonderful to meet so many faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends of the College over the past few months. The more I learn about the exceptional caliber of our programs, research, and community outreach, the more assured am I that we are truly poised to attain the next level of success and visibility. I’d like to thank my predecessor, Dr. Richard R. Ranta, for leading CCFA so tirelessly and effectively since its inception. It’s an honor and a privilege, indeed, to become dean of a college that, through Dean Ranta’s leadership and the dedication of the entire CCFA team, has such an enviable record of student achievement and community partnerships. Associate Dean Moira Logan and Associate Professor Janet Page did an excellent job as, respectively, Interim Dean and Interim Associate Dean, in overseeing the transition period prior to my coming on board, and I feel extremely fortunate to be leading a College that is moving forward from a position of strength. And, wow, we certainly have a lot of exciting upcoming initiatives! Here is a brief CCFA snapshot: I am thrilled to confirm that the Scheidt Family Music Center–the planning for which has been ongoing for more than 20 years–has officially entered its implementation stage. The funding that was included in the Governor’s budget was approved last spring, and we are now progressing full steam ahead to construct the venue, which will not only give our students the state-of-the-art facilities they deserve, but will also offer Memphis a new destination for the enjoyment of music and other performing arts. Meanwhile, the continuing partnership between the Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music and the Memphis Symphony will this year include recitals, master classes presented by symphony musicians on campus, and MSO participation in a newly re-imagined Summer Music Camp. The symphony will also be presenting one of their chamber orchestra concert series in Harris Concert Hall. Other events designed to reach out into the community include Opening Night at the Scheidt, our annual Holiday Concert, and our twice yearly Out-To-Lunch concerts. The Mainstage Theatre, where this summer the Tennessee Shakespeare Company in collaboration with our Department of Theatre & Dance presented a hilarious production of “The Comedy of Errors,” this fall welcomes the return of the dance concert after a 15year absence. Given my background as a dancer, it will come as no surprise to you that I am delighted that the dance concentration was reinstated in fall 2016 back into the Theatre & Dance major. CCFA is thrilled to showcase that return to our theatre stage, and we invite our alums to celebrate Moira Logan, who was the architect of the program starting in 1986. Having extended its highly successful Design+Build Studio initiative this summer, which included partnerships with the Carpenter Art Garden, the Memphis College of Art and the UofM Department of City and Regional Planning, the Department of Architecture looks forward to leading a range of community engagement projects this fall in every one of its design studios. The Art Museum is the central organization (in liaison with the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art and the Indie Memphis Film
Festival) presenting a highly acclaimed exhibition and extensive programing related to Saudi contemporary art. The museum staff has been working with many local Muslim organizations and on campus with the Muslim Student Association and the Saudi Student Organization, as well as with Dr. Beverly Tsacoyianis, the specialist in 20th and 21st century Islamic history in the history department. Meanwhile, at the Martha and Robert Fogelman Galleries of Contemporary Art, the semester’s first exhibit was the Department of Art’s BFA Selects Series, showcasing the work of an exemplary graduating BFA student. This year the solo show has been awarded to the mixed media artist Su Weichu. In September, performance artist Jose Torres Tama performed his nationally touring one-man show, “Aliens, Immigrants and Other Evildoers,” in which he satirized the status of immigrants as ‘extraterrestrials’ through a sci-fi prism informed by comic film shorts. Upcoming shows include the BFA and MFA Thesis Exhibitions and the Graphic Design Senior Exhibition. This spring, CCFA will host a range of activities that recognize the 50th commemoration of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., including a symposium sponsored by the Department of Communication, a showing downtown at the Halloran Center of the documentary film “At the River I Stand,” directed by professors Steven Ross, David Appleby and Allison Graham (Department of Communication), and an oral history project, which will include interviews, a multimedia project and the delivery of an oral history course, led by Dr. Roxanne Coche and Dr. Joe Hayden (Department of Journalism and Strategic Media) with Dr. Goudsouzian (Department of History), in collaboration with the National Civil Rights Museum. My overall vision for CCFA, which each of these events and initiatives help to promote, is for it to be locally, nationally and internationally recognized as a model of excellence for its subject areas in teaching, research and creative practice, and community engagement. This goal is ambitious but, I believe, fully achievable. The members of the CCFA community that I have had the pleasure to meet and to work with so far are talented, focused, creative and enthusiastic. So… let’s dream big, work hard, and enjoy the ride towards further achievements! Sincerely,
Dr. Anne Hogan Dean, College of Communication and Fine Arts
ccfa.memphis.edu VOICES 1
AROUND CCFA
Meeman 901 took on FedEx Institute, Nerd Night Projects By Cody Prentiss, Journalism &
students to have their work get noticed
Nights feature three speakers each month
Strategic Media master’s student
and see what it is like to work under tight
discussing either their research or their
deadlines. “Students have the exciting
passions.
Meeman 901 Strategies, the studentrun strategic media firm at the University
ability to see their work displayed on
of Memphis, participated in two projects
campus,” Chaney said.
during the spring semester, both of which
The work with the FedEx Institute
Meeman 901 Strategies was started in spring 2014 by former public relations faculty member Darrin Devault to give
helped grow the firm and added new
included doing the posters, which
students practical experience in design,
clients to its operations.
were displayed around campus during
public relations and promotions. It is now a
the 2017 National Conference on
three-credit practicum course.
The students worked with the FedEx Institute of Technology to create 13
Undergraduate Research. The conference
posters on topics such as cybersecurity
brought more than 4,000 students and
campaign strategies, creation of social
and biologistics. Also, the students worked
faculty to campus those three days from
media content and event planning. For
with Nerd Night Memphis, a monthly
around the country.
more information about Meeman 901,
event designed to bring together people and academics. Firm director Audrey Chaney said both projects were opportunities for
For Nerd Night, the group worked to design the logo and brand standards for
The firm can offer services such as
visit its website at meeman901strategies.com.
the monthly event, which is conducted at the Rec Room at 3000 Broad Ave. Nerd
Communication Student Wins Dean’s Creative Achievement Award Film and Video Production graduate
title character is played by Art alum
“Keep Pushing,” short documentary
Kevin Brooks (BA ’16) received the 2017
Lawrence Matthews (BA ’15). Myles is
Dean’s Creative Achievement Award. A
a skateboarder whose afternoon with
23-year-old award winning filmmaker from
friends in economically challenged areas
Memphis, Brooks has been involved with
of Memphis takes a bad turn. UofM alum
many video projects ranging from music
Asia Sims (MA ’17) co-produced the film.
2017 Finalists:
videos through school projects to directing
Recognition:
• Jarvis Boyland (BFA ’17), Art
his own short films. He has won countless
• Selected as finalist for the Girls Impact
• Austin Blake Conlee (BFA ’17), Theatre &
awards for his short films within the
The World Festival for short film
Memphis area, and his films have been
“Peighton,” which highlighted feminism
screened at major festivals such as Indie
in youth
Memphis and the National Film Festival
• Selected one of five top filmmakers out
for Talented Youth (NFFTY). He was also
of hundreds for the Sundance Ignite
selected as one of the five finalists for the
Program for Emerging Filmmakers
Sundance Ignite Program for his short film “Keep Pushing.” The program encourages emerging filmmakers who have a clear artistic passion for filmmaking. His most recent film “Myles” debuted recently on nobudge.com, a free online showcase for quality independent shorts and feature films curated by alum Kentucker Audley (BA ‘05). The 2 VOICES Fall 2017
• Top 25 finalist for the Golden Globes filmmaking contest in 2016 • Top Prize at the UofM Go Pro Film Fest in 2015 • Best Student Film at Unreal Film Fest in 2013 • Semi-finalist for the Warner Bros Emerging Directors Program • Indie Memphis Special Jury Prize for
• Honored at the Adobe Max Conference in San Diego • Top 10 finalist for the Memphis Film Prize for “Marcus”
Dance • Addie James (BA ’17), Journalism and Strategic Media • Kyndle McMahan (BM ’17), Music
Dorothy Kayser Hohenberg Chair of Excellence Lecture Restoring Reputations: Exhibiting
Dr. Nunn has specialized in the
The Dorothy Kayser Hohenberg Chair
Women’s Work in the 21st Century
history of women artists since she began
of Excellence in Art History (COE) is a
Art Museum was the subject of the
her career in England in 1976. In 1989,
one-year appointment held by a visiting
Department of Art’s annual Dorothy Kayser
she went to work at the University of
scholar of the highest credentials. It was
Hohenberg Chair of Excellence this spring.
Canterbury in New Zealand, and since
established by the Hohenberg family in
The lecture, which looked at the issues
2008, has taught, researched and
memory of Dorothy Kayser Hohenberg.
and strategies involved in giving historic
curated as a freelance art historian. She
female artists their due in the museum
is known internationally for her work with
today, was given by the 2016-17 chair,
several ground-breaking publications and
Dr. Pamela Gerrish Nunn.
exhibitions to her credit.
For more information, call the Department of Art at 901.678.2216.
William Plenk Named Athletic Bands Director The Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music
Aimachi Marching Band from Nagoya,
the UCLA Wind Ensemble, and associate
has new band leadership this fall with the
Japan, the eight-time All Japan National
conductor of the UCLA Brass Ensemble.
addition of William Plenk to the faculty.
Champion. He has served on the staff of
He also received a Master of Music
Hired this summer, he serves as assistant
several drum and bugle corps including
degree in tuba performance from UCLA,
director of Bands and director of Athletic
The Academy, The Cadets, Boston
and a Bachelor of Music degree in tuba
Bands, overseeing the Mighty Sound of
Crusaders and Phantom Regiment.
performance from Ithaca College.
the South, the University of Memphis Pep
Plenk previously served for six years as
Plenk holds memberships in
Band and the University Band. He also will
associate director of Bands and director of
the College Band Directors National
and teach Marching Band Techniques and
Athletic Bands at the University of Nevada,
Association, College Music Society and
other courses in the School of Music.
Reno, developing the athletic band
National Association for Music Education
program into one of the most respected
and is an honorary member of Phi Mu
active as a clinician and adjudicator. He
in the region. He received his Doctor of
Alpha and the national band fraternity
has worked with concert bands and
Musical Arts degree in conducting from
Kappa Kappa Psi.
marching bands from across the United
the University of California, Los Angeles,
States, Singapore, and Japan, including
where he was conductor of the UCLA
a three-season tenure with the Tenrikyo
Symphonic Band, associate conductor of
Outside of the UofM, Plenk is highly
William R. Eubanks Distinguished Lecture Series The Department of Architecture hosted the William R. Eubanks Distinguished Lecture this spring featuring
projects, notably renovations of Brooklyn brownstones. Manis taught architecture at the
The William R. Eubanks Distinguished Lecture was established in 2007 through an endowment by noted interior designer
Tina Manis, founding and principal partner
University of Pennsylvania Graduate Design
William R. Eubanks. Lectures in the
of Tina Manis Associates, LLC, in Brooklyn,
School in Philadelphia and Columbia
series are held annually with outstanding
New York. She is an architect and interior
University in New York, and has been a
architecture and interior design speakers.
designer who worked for British architect
guest critic at Princeton and Berkeley and
Richard Rogers and Dutch architect Rem
the Architectural Association in London. She
Manis, go to her website at
Koolhaas before going out on her own to
teaches interior design at The New School/
tinamanis.com.
design both commercial and residential
Parsons School of Design.
For more information about Tina
ccfa.memphis.edu VOICES 3
AROUND CCFA
Recently Published Books by Journalism and Strategic Media Professors DR. TOM HRACH, “RIOT REPORT AND THE NEWS” Journalism faculty member Tom
BOSS CRUMP TO KING WILLIE” “From Boss Crump to King Willie:
otissanford.com.
How Race Changed Memphis Politics,”
Hrach released his first book, “The Riot
published by the University of Tennessee
Report and the News: How the Kerner
Press, chronicles the political history
Commission Changed Media Coverage
of Memphis from the 45-year reign of
of Black America” last year. In July, it
Edward H. Crump, boss of Memphis, to
received the 2017 Book of the Year Award
the election of Dr. Willie W. Herenton, the
from the American Journalism Historians
city’s first black mayor.
Association. The book is an examination
century. For more information, go to
The book explains in vivid detail how
of how the 1968 Kerner Commission
African Americans in Memphis fought for
developed its media criticism, which is
nearly a century for political acceptance
considered a milestone in the history of
and inclusion and tells the story of
journalism.
Memphians and the people they entrusted
PROFESSOR OTIS SANFORD, “FROM
with political power throughout the 20th
Otis Sanford
CCFA Faculty Retirements
Maestro Pu-qi Jiang
Maestro Pu-Qi Jiang Maestro Pu-Qi (pronounced Poo-
UofM in 2000, his MM and DMA orchestral
He is the founder of the Germantown
conducting programs have attracted
Performing Arts Centre Youth Symphony
talented young conductors from Australia,
Orchestra and led this young group on a
Canada, China, Columbia, Germany, Jordan,
concert tour to China in summer 2011.
Korea, Russia, Taiwan and the U.S. His
Also in 2011, he was the recipient of the
students have won the Solti Foundation
Germantown Arts Alliance Distinguished
U.S. Award, the fellowship of the American
Arts and Humanities Medal for Performing
Academy of Conducting at the Aspen Music
Arts. In 2009, he received the UofM
Festival award and School and the honor
Faudree Professorship Award, which is
citation from the American Prize Orchestral
awarded in memory of former Provost
Conducting Competition.
Ralph Faudree.
He has led university faculty and student ensembles on concert tours in Beijing, China; Nanjing, China; Salzburg,
Dr. Sandra Sarkela Dr. Sandra Sarkela, associate professor
Austria; Prague, Czech Repubic and Vienna,
of communication studies, retired in June
Chi) Jiang conducted the University of
Austria. He conducted the University
after being at the UofM since 2005. During
Memphis Symphony Orchestra for the last
of Memphis Symphony Orchestra in a
her last two years, she served as interim
time in April. Jiang, director of Orchestras
performance of Mahler’s Symphony #2
chair of the Department of Communication.
in the Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music,
(mov. I, IV and V), which won the second
It was the second time in her UofM career
retired this spring.
prize in the American Prize Orchestral
that she stepped into the role.
During his career, Jiang has enjoyed an active international conducting schedule and taught at all levels. Since coming to the 4 VOICES Fall 2017
Performance Competition in 2011. Jiang also has a passion for sharing his music experience with young music lovers.
Sarkela received her master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Before coming to
the UofM, she taught in the Department of
Resources for Students Outstanding
Communication at State University of New
Faculty “See Me” Award; a National
York at Potsdam. Her teaching and research
Endowment for the Humanities “We the
center on the history and criticism of
People” summer stipend for 2010; two
Anglo-American public address, particularly
Outstanding Graduate Mentor awards from
18th century theory and practice and
the Tennessee Communication Association;
public address of American women. She is
a UofM President’s Leadership Recognition
currently revising a book-length monograph
Award; the 2004 President’s Award for
on the political rhetoric of John Dickson
Excellence in Teaching, SUNY Potsdam; and
(1732-1808).
inclusion in the Eastern Communication
She has received many awards
Association Committee of Scholars.
and honors, including a 2014 Disability
Sandy Sarkela
Phil Cannon Honored With Fund The FedEx St. Jude Classic and the
“The Phil Cannon Memorial
this as a perfect way to celebrate Cannon’s
University of Memphis have collaborated
Scholarship will significantly enhance
to create the Phil Cannon Memorial
our department’s new sports journalism
Scholarship Fund to benefit journalism
program,” said David Arant, chair of the
University of Memphis, a place that meant
students who have demonstrated a
Department of Journalism and Strategic
so much to Phil throughout his life,” Smith
commitment to the community.
Media. “Sports journalism is a rapidly
said. “Phil had a passion for journalism and
growing area for journalism study at
the people that work in the industry.”
Phil Cannon, a 1978 UofM Journalism
legacy. “We are honored to partner with the
alumnus, was involved in the St. Jude
the University of Memphis, and this
Classic golf tournament for five years, and
scholarship spotlights the opportunities
at the TPC Southwind gold course, and
he served as tournament director from
for our students in the field of sports
it attracts the biggest names on the PGA
1999 to 2015. After his death in October
journalism.”
tour. Contributions to the fund can be
2016, friends of Canon and the tournament decided to establish the fund in his honor.
Current FedEx St. Jude Classic
The tournament is conducted in June
made to the FedEx St. Jude Classic.
Tournament Director Darrell Smith sees
Norm Brewer First Amendment Lecture Held Keith Woods, vice president for
Woods was city editor of the New Orleans
Diversity in News and Operations at
Times-Picayune, where he directed an
National Public Radio, was the guest
award-winning series of articles on race in
speaker for the sixth annual Norm Brewer
America. He is also the co-author of “The
First Amendment Lecture this past spring.
Authentic Voice: The Best Reporting on
He discussed “The Media and Race in the
Race and Ethnicity,” which was published
Era of Donald Trump.” The lecture is held
in 2006.
in memory of longtime Memphis journalist Norm Brewer.
For more information about this lecture, contact Otis Sanford, Hardin
Woods joined NPR in 2010 after
Chair of Excellence in Journalism,
serving as dean of faculty and director of
at o.sanford@memphis.edu or
diversity at the Poynter Institute for Media
901.678.3669.
Studies in St. Petersburg, Fla. Prior to that,
Keith Woods
ccfa.memphis.edu VOICES 5
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
Bailey Clark, Department of Journalism and Strategic Media Growing up in the suburbs of
As a freshman, Clark worked as a
and professors supported me and helped
Memphis, Bailey Clark’s life was fairly
photographer at The Daily Helmsman
normal except for the 10 years she spent
and credited this opportunity for inspiring
competing in horse shows.
her to strive for her current career goals.
her departmental professors has been
Building on that, she interned at an online
her favorite part of being a student at the
for multiple hours, so I guess that isn’t
publication, Choose901, before deciding to
UofM. Professors Roxane Coche and Matt
exactly normal for most kids,” Clark joked.
study abroad.
Haught have been particularly supportive,
“I was at the barn every day training
The second youngest of six children,
Clark knew she wanted to eventually
make it happen.” According to Clark, the support of
with Haught having had the biggest
she has two brothers and three sisters
study in another country. One of her
impact. “He’s always helped me, whether
and parents who supported her no matter
older sisters had studied in Florence, Italy,
it be proofreading an article or finding an
what she wanted to do.
and she came to the UofM knowing she
internship. I wouldn’t have my internship
wanted to follow her wanderlust footsteps.
in Paris if it weren’t for him. When I came
“My mom always jokes that I owe her a good spot in the retirement home
“I knew I wanted to study abroad. I
because of the countless weekends she
chose the UofM because I knew I could
completely and helped me find a way to
spent at horse shows with me,” she said.
study abroad here more than at other
make it happen.”
“It’s true. I do!”
schools.”
Coming to the University of Memphis
She went to Paris the first semester
to him with the idea, he supported it
Her tenacity and support led her to fashion photographer Boris Ovini, where
opened her up to new possibilities. A
of her sophomore year and fell in love
she landed an internship that involved
person who goes after what she wants,
with the city, the culture and the people.
assisting him on photo shoots and with
Clark brought the same level of passion
Having made some good friends, French
image post-production. In addition, she
she had as an equestrienne to her studies
and otherwise, she decided part of the
worked a bit with Ovini’s publication,
and pursuit of valuable experience. As
way through her semester abroad that she
Exhibition Magazine, and helped create
an equestrienne, she once trained and
wanted to stay.
mood boards for potential photoshoots.
competed on a horse that won the United
“The thought of leaving honestly gave
“Sometimes the hours are long, but I
States Equestrian Federation National
me anxiety. At that point, I started looking
love it,” Clark said. “I learned more in three
Horse of the Year in its division. As a
for internships because that would be
months than I thought possible.”
student, she wanted to gain the hands-on
the easiest way to stay—internships and
experience necessary to get the most out
online classes,” she said. “I got very lucky
will end in December, but she is planning
of her education.
that I found one, and that my parents
to pursue a Master’s degree in Paris after
6 VOICES Fall 2017
The internship began in February and
Clark relaxes at the French Riviera.
she graduates in spring 2018. As valuable
both of these things and also continue to
She enjoys running around taking her
as the experience with the international
learn,” said Clark, who is a self-proclaimed
own photos and getting brunch. When it
photographer has been, she would not
nerd.
is sunny outside, which according to Clark
consider it her greatest achievement as a student. “That’s just normal life for me, so
When her internship ends, the plan is to come back to Memphis and finish school. She would like to work and save
is rare for Paris, she goes to the park or by the Seine to read a book. “I honestly don’t know how I keep
it’s not really an achievement at the
money to travel—maybe back to Paris to
a balance. I think it involves lots of list
same time. I guess a better way to look
visit friends or a new locale.
making and being organized. Work comes
at it would be that I’m proud that I’m
“Probably a new place,” she said.
first, then I make a list of school work that
graduating a year early, and I spent half of
Her ultimate career goal is to work in
I need to get done, and then I have time
that time living abroad.”
photojournalism, maybe something like
set aside for friends. Normally, one or two
National Geographic. “I like learning about
nights a week after work and Sundays are
Clark is now on track to get her bachelor’s
different cultures and people’s stories and
for school, and then I’m free to have a
in journalism with a minor in French in
capturing them in photos, so I figure that
social life after that.”
May 2018.
would be a pretty good fit.”
Originally slated to graduate May 2019,
“I chose journalism because I like to write and travel. I figure I can combine
Although she works and studies hard, Clark still tries to find time to have fun. ccfa.memphis.edu VOICES 7
CCFA’s Future
Following the one and only dean of a college that
“CCFA is at an exciting moment in its development,
has been around since the late 1970s might be a
and my vision is for it to attain even greater local,
daunting task for some, but for Dr. Anne Hogan, it was
national and international visibility,” she said. “I believe
the next step in her career that she was eager to take.
that the college is moving forward from a position
“I was really excited when I learned about the
of strength, and there is huge potential for it to be
opening at CCFA, because it was exactly the kind
renowned as a paradigm of excellence for its subject
of challenge I had been hoping for,” Hogan said.
areas in teaching, research and creative practice, and
“I enjoyed the international aspects of my previous
community engagement.”
position as director of education at the Royal Academy
In her first week, Hogan hit the ground running,
of Dance. In seeking a new opportunity, however, I
getting a crash course on the college offerings during
was looking for a leadership role that would utilize my
the National Conference on Undergraduate Research
international experience and allow me to work across a
that was held at the University of Memphis. This
range of subject areas, similar to those I oversaw in my
conference, which coincidentally was scheduled to be
former role as associate dean of Humanities & Arts at
on campus the week she started, brought a national
London Metropolitan University.”
audience of students and faculty to Memphis allowing
Hogan took over as dean of the College of Communication and Fine Arts in April, replacing Dr. Richard R. Ranta, founding dean, who held the position for 39 years. When the college opened in 1977, it did so with the departments of
each college and
I believe that the college is moving forward from a position of strength
”
Art, Journalism, Music
school on campus to showcase their programs. Since then, the more she learned about the college’s achievements, the exceptional levels of support for its students and the opportunities to engage with the
and Speech & Drama. It has grown and now contains
community and professional sector, the more impressed
the departments of Architecture, Art, Communication,
she became.
Journalism and Strategic Media and Theatre &
She said one of her main goals is to build upon
Dance, as well as the Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music,
CCFA’s considerable track record of community
the Institute for Egyptian Art and Archaeology, the
engagement, and to develop further initiatives that
Center for Sustainable Design, the Art Museum of the
enrich the cultural and economic wellbeing of the local
University of Memphis and The Martha and Robert
community, such as the partnership with the Memphis
Fogelman Galleries of Contemporary Art.
Symphony.
A former dancer with experience overseeing
In addition to getting more visibility for the college,
arts and communication areas, Hogan understands
Hogan identified curricular development as another key
the particular needs of academics who are creative
priority.
practitioners and will support faculty in tapping that
“We need to maintain a relevant and academically
creativity to forge innovative approaches to teaching
rigorous portfolio of undergraduate and graduate
and to research. Her global mindset and experience
programs in order to facilitate student achievement and
with alumni and external relations, as well as her ability
graduate employability,” she said.
to nurture interdisciplinary initiatives and links with the
To achieve these goals, it will be important to
community, make her the ideal person to take CCFA
maintain a stimulating and positive atmosphere and
into the future.
physical environment. Already, initiatives like the new (Continued on page 10)
ccfa.memphis.edu VOICES 9
Dean Hogan (right) relaxes in the Berlin State Ballet Studio with dancers from the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) Graduate Program for professional dancers.
(Continued from page 9)
Scheidt Family Music Center give CCFA that desired impact on the cultural landscape of Memphis. “It’s the ambience, the CCFA spirit, that has been
She said turning the potential of the College into reality depends upon refining and implementing a strategic roadmap for achieving this vision of excellence,
and will be the determining factor in its long-term
through collaboration with President M. David Rudd,
success, and I will do my utmost to nurture a dynamic,
Provost Karen Weddle-West and CCFA faculty, staff and
rewarding, inclusive and supportive habitat for CCFA
alumni, as well as other members of the university.
students, faculty and staff.”
“I am proud to join an institution with such a clearly
Less than a month after starting her new role, Hogan held the first CCFA town hall meeting, something she plans to continue on a regular basis to allow an open, two-way flow of
articulated ethos of
My goals for CCFA are ambitions but, I believe, fully achievable.
”
communication. During
inclusivity and respect for artistic expression. I am inspired by its capacity to align its global vision with its commitment to the local community. While it’s large enough to enjoy the resources of
the meeting, she described her vision and opened the
a research university, it also manages to maintain a
floor for suggestions on ways to engage and attract
friendly, personalized environment,” Hogan said.
the community, as well as how to build interdisciplinary
CCFA’s commitment to the local community, which
partnerships and programming. In addition, she brought
is part of her strategic vision, is already evident in a
to the college an idea that has been circulating for a
variety of neighborhoods. It is seen in special projects
while with CCFA leadership–establishing an arts festival
such as the Crosstown Arts and the old Sears Crosstown
that would allow each department to be showcased to
building revitalization, beautification murals on buildings
the community.
and in parks and sustainability projects. In a place like
“It will be essential to keep the CCFA community informed of our progress in achieving our goals, and to ensure that there are ongoing opportunities for constituents to feed into, and feel invested in, the evolution of the College.”
10 VOICES Fall 2017
Memphis, CCFA is especially positioned to show off its creative chops.
Get to Know Dean Anne Hogan First-time Memphian, Anne Hogan, PhD, new dean of the College of Communication and Fine Arts, had
before moving to a new country,” she joked. While in Paris, she found herself back in ballet and
always wanted to visit the Bluff City but never had the
the dance world, founding a small company with two
opportunity until she came to the University of Memphis
other dancers/choreographers. She later decided that
for her interview.
it was time to align her work as a practitioner with her
“From my first view of sunset over the Mississippi, I was sold,” she said. “Getting a glimpse of the many distinct neighborhoods of Memphis, and a sense of the
broader academic aspiration and moved to the United Kingdom to do so. This new career direction took her to the London
impact the arts and media have on developing those
Contemporary Dance School, where she served as
areas, further fueled my anticipation for making the
head of Postgraduate Studies and Research. Most
move here.”
recently, she was director of education at the Royal
Growing up in Quincy, Mass., a suburb of Boston,
Academy of Dance (RAD), based in London, and
Hogan was an athletic child, involved in figure skating,
senior advisor for international partnerships, based in
sledding, cycling and ballet. She started taking ballet
the U.S. In her role, she established partnerships with
lessons at the age of 12, going on to train with the
higher education and arts institutions from Australia to
Boston School of Ballet. In high school, she began
China to North America.
dancing as an apprentice with the Boston Ballet
“While my career has focused on administrative roles,
Company and joined the company after graduation.
I make time to get back into the studio whenever I can.
It was a tremendous opportunity for her to dance in a
Along with ballet-based technique class, I love teaching a
varied, challenging repertoire and to travel.
conditioning class I have developed, called Classicore, which
“In fact, the very first plane ride I ever took was as a member of the company’s first world tour, which
combines ballet-based floor exercises and Pilates mat work.” Although different from the other places she has
brought us to China, Israel, Hong Kong and Europe.
lived, Memphis has an appeal that draws her in and
That was so long ago that Beijing was still called
makes her want to get to know more about her new
Peking, and is main mode of transit was bicycles.”
home, the people, and the arts and cultural landscape.
For several summers, they toured in productions
“Memphis—what a cool place to live! For a city of
starring Rudolf Nureyev. A relatively small company
its size, Memphis supports a remarkable amount of
at that time, each dancer had to dance each act so,
cultural offerings—performances, museums, galleries
although fun, the tours were challenging. She would
and outdoor festivals. It’s fantastic. Its thriving cultural
dance for a short time with the Pacific Northwest Ballet,
scene and its reputation for hospitality are enormously
which also had an extensive repertoire, before returning
attractive, and I am eager to learn about the city
to the Boston Ballet.
through my work as well as by establishing personal
Eventually, she decided it was time to pursue her dream of university study. She graduated summa cum
roots here.” Still very active, Hogan loves to walk and cycle,
laude with a BA in English Literature from Harvard
so she is looking forward to exploring the city’s
University and went on to graduate studies at Brown
neighborhoods and trails, including the Memphis
University. When it was time to work on her doctoral
Downtown Riverwalk. Her active lifestyle will help her
dissertation, she moved to Paris and taught English
build a healthy appetite, lending her the opportunity to
literature at the American University of Paris, where she
try the long list of restaurants about which she has read.
later served as director of Alumni Relations and Annual
“It certainly seems like Memphis is a food lovers’
Fund Giving. “Living in Paris was an amazing and enriching
haven, so doing so might be a long-term project! I am truly thrilled about my new role with the University of
experience, although learning French was rather daunting.
Memphis, and by the prospect of exploring all that
I would definitely recommend learning the language first
Memphis has to offer.”
ccfa.memphis.edu VOICES 11
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
Teri Feigelson (BFA ’81), Department of Theatre & Dance Theatre was in her blood, and Teri Kennedy Feigelson knew she wanted to be on stage. Her father, Dr. James Keith Kennedy, was the first director of theatre at then-Memphis State University and the man responsible for bringing the controversial anti-war musical Hair to campus. “My dad had the greatest impact on me and still does,”
“I suppose I used it as a kind of therapy, but also to treasure the remarkable people I worked with and for.” After years of writing as a pastime, Feigelson took her new passion back to the stage. Her first play, Mountain View, won the New Works at the Works competition in 2014 and was produced by Playhouse on
Feigelson said of her father who passed away in December 2008
the Square’s Theatre Works in 2015. She won the 2015 Ostrander
of congestive heart failure. “There is not a day that goes by that I
Award for Best Original Script and Best Original Music for her
don’t think of him or hear his wisdom whispering into my ear. I’m
lyrics. Sponsored by Arts Memphis and Memphis Magazine, the
old enough now that I truly pay attention.”
Ostrander Awards are annual theatre honors named for the late
She graduated in 1981 with her BFA in theatre, concentrating in performance. In addition to her father, Theatre Professor Josie Helming was an inspiration for her during her college years. “Josie was my acting teacher and mentor during college, but she also happened to be my first babysitter. I knew her most of my life. The theatre is one big and very interesting family.” After graduation, Feigelson tried to make a career of acting,
Jim Ostrander, longtime Memphis theatre icon. “My proudest collaborative moment to date was opening night of Mountain View. My proudest achievement was having written it and it being my very first play.” That kind of success out of the gate was exciting and fulfilling, but being able to tell her stories and do justice to her characters is what is really satisfying.
but a few years later, she decided to return to the University of
“The characters come into my life and then just start talking,”
Memphis and earned a master’s degree in social work in 1992.
Feigelson said. “I might see an image or hear a song and then we
She became interested in social work during her acting years
are off to the races and that flow that happens is indescribable.
through her connection with Kelly Services, a temporary agency
Hours can go by and it feels like minutes. Time disappears and I
used by actors who needed income between shows.
am nowhere but in my play. It’s how I imagine going into another
While she was a social worker, Feigelson discovered a new passion and talent for writing. During that time, she wrote prolifically, using it as a way to funnel her creative energy.
dimension would feel like. That is pretty rewarding.” She said collaborating with artists and getting to see the work come to life is also quite fulfilling. She said she enjoyed “hearing my words said aloud in beautiful and often surprising ways, feeling the audience being moved by something I’ve written.”
The cast of Mountain View poses on stage. 12 VOICES Fall 2017
T he cast for Mountain View included Alice Rainey Berry (seated, BA ‘94 and MA ‘12) who handles publicity and promotions for the Department of Theatre & Dance.
Her second play, Moon Vine, also won the New Works at the Works playwriting competition and was produced by Theatre Works in 2016. She is currently working on a western called The
Through the years, Feigelson learned that it is important to go after your dreams because it’s better than living with regret. “I learned that giving up makes you feel worse in the long
Out There, set in west Texas in the late 1800s. She chose this
run than staying the course and being a complete failure. In other
setting because of the similarities between today’s world and
words … stick! I only wish my Dad could be here to see that I
the Wild West. Her play focuses on the fearless entrepreneurship
finally came back into the fold after having been out of the theatre
and the kind of prosaic emotional and physical violence that is so
all of those years and that when I did, I did all right.”
commonplace that people accept it as a guiding principle used to navigate through life. “I never dreamed I’d be doing this. I thought I’d be an actress working the regional theatre circuits.” Feigelson said. “I’m a playwright. I am a writer. I write plays. It wasn’t something I planned to do, it just evolved in a relatively recent and serendipitously beautiful way.” She does not spend all her time writing, but her main hobby, gardening, connects her to writing. “Pen and paper are garden tools for the mind and trowel and hoe instruments of inspiration. I feel like I go full circle from ground to page and back again.” She balances her professional and personal life by scheduling specific time during the day for writing, and she strictly adheres to it. At the end of the day, she truly enjoys spending time with her husband watching classic movies. ccfa.memphis.edu VOICES 13
Scheidt Family Music Center Ceremonial Groundbreaking
On Friday, Oct. 27, 2017, the University of Memphis
been met. Part of that support came through the Take
will “break ground” on the Scheidt Family Music Center.
Your Seat Campaign, which allowed donors to name a
The ceremonial groundbreaking will take place in the
seat and become a permanent part of the new premier
Central Parking Lot, located on the east side of the
destination for the arts. Based on the donation, a
Holiday Inn.
nameplate will be placed on a seat in the performance
According to Dr. Anne Hogan, dean of the UofM’s College of Communication and Fine Arts, “Not only will
hall with the donor’s choice of name on it. The new construction is important to the future
the Scheidt Family Music Center provide a beautiful and
of the Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music. Because of the
fitting home for our outstanding School of Music, but
age and design of the current music building, the music
it will also enhance our ability to offer an even wider
productions and community programs are limited in
array of musical performances and opportunities to the
scope. The new venue will allow the School of Music
community at large. This long-awaited groundbreaking
to address issues such as lack of stage space, seating
ceremony is a thrilling occasion to celebrate the Rudi E.
and acoustically appropriate spaces, while providing the
Scheidt School of Music and our administration, faculty
capacity to bring larger productions to campus and the
and friends who have worked so tirelessly to bring it
ability to build upon existing relationships with other arts
about.”
programs in the city of Memphis.
The project is becoming a reality thanks to the
The relationship between the Memphis Symphony
generous support of friends, faculty, staff and donors
Orchestra (MSO) is one that will be strengthened
without whom the $40 million goal would not have
through this new construction. In May, the UofM and
14 VOICES Fall 2017
MSO announced a partnership that will make the Rudi E.
citizens of the Mid-South to experience the full range of
Scheidt School of Music the premier destination in the
musical offerings created by the partnership.
Mid-South for music training and performance, music
As one of Tennessee’s only doctoral degree-granting
outreach and arts-centered, cross-sector community
programs in music, the new facility will help the School of
development.
Music celebrate the innovative spirit of their students and
"The Board, staff and players of the MSO are extremely excited about what the new music center will
continue to attract high-caliber talent to the University. “We are the best school of music in this part of the
mean for not only the University area, but the whole
country, but we don’t have the facilities to match or even
community. The opportunities for public performance,
come close to the level of programming we offer,” said
professional mentoring, and community engagement are
John Chiego, director of the School of Music. “The new
limitless and serve as a centerpiece of the trailblazing
Scheidt Family Music Center will give our world class
partnership between the MSO and the University of
faculty and students a world class facility matching the
Memphis. Get ready to hear some beautiful music," said
quality of our program.”
Peter Abell, president and CEO of MSO. As part of that partnership, Memphis Symphony
For questions about how to be a part
Orchestra in Residence at the University of Memphis will
of our continued success, please contact
offer a series of world-class symphonic music on campus.
Katherine Goliver at k.goliver@memphis.edu or
These top quality performances at the UofM will create
901.678.4372.
a rich opportunity for students, faculty, patrons and all
ccfa.memphis.edu VOICES 15
Help support students, faculty and programs with contributions to the
College of Communication and Fine Arts Enrichment Fund
Make checks payable to the CCFA Enrichment Fund and mail to: UofM Foundation PO Box 1000, Dept. 238 Memphis TN 38148-0001 Or donate online at memphis.edu/give and select Communication and Fine Arts.
ART MUSEUM OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS EXHIBITION
SAUDI CONTEMPORARY ART IN MEMPHIS, TN
Special symposium: November 5, 2017 On display through: January 6, 2018 Desert to Delta is part of a United States program of Saudi contemporary art organized by the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture, a Saudi Aramco, and produced in collaboration with Culturunners, a UK-based platform for international artist exchange. Desert to Delta is one of ten separately curated exhibitions shown in 2016 through 2018 in Houston, Aspen, San Francisco, Lewiston, Maine, Los Angeles, Detroit, Salt Lake City, Memphis, Washington, D.C. and Brooklyn. 16 VOICES Fall 2017
IN THE COMMUNITY
School of Music Partners With Art For Life’s Sake By Carol Morse, Rudi E. Scheidt
underrepresented children to have access
appreciation for the arts. The engagement
School of Music
to the arts. Programs are aimed at children
of students in the arts after school, on
ages 4 to 14, with pre-K children reached
weekends and during summers also
by special projects.
reduces the likelihood that youth are
The Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music recently began another community partnership, this time with Art For Life’s
“Our partnership with Art for Life’s
making choices that are counterproductive
Sake (AFLS). The school provides the
Sake allows us to serve the community in
program with space to deliver music
a way that perhaps no other organization
education classes and instruction on
can,” said John Chiego, director of the
said, “I began studying the violin at Art For
string instruments. Dr. Hattie Isen, the
School of Music. “We have the expertise
Life’s Sake at the age of 4. I participated
organization’s founder, made this request
of our faculty and with our students to
in the myriad opportunities that existed
because the space they had been using
help in their educational mission by having
at AFLS — summer programs, Saturday
had become unaffordable.
them on our campus. It gives them a
classes, cultural activities, performances
more prominent profile in the community,
and so much more. Studying violin at AFLS
arts access and musical exposure for at-
which should allow them to grow in their
provided me with the opportunity to work
risk children. Isen founded the organization
mission.”
with highly experienced violin instructors. It
For two decades, AFLS has provided
in 1990 while working as an elementary
to happy, safe and productive futures. Former participant Sokoya Cooper
Since 1990, approximately 723
was this foundation that provided me the
counseling supervisor for Memphis City
students have had access to Art for
opportunity to play in multiple orchestras:
Schools. She learned from her experience
Life’s Sake. Of this number, some have
Colonial Middle School, Overton High
and research that training in and exposure
auditioned for and entered one of the
School, and both the Memphis Youth
to the arts empowers students who may
Memphis Youth Symphony programs,
Symphony Ensemble and Sinfonia. I am so
be at risk of making choices that are
middle and high school orchestras, and
grateful for all of the opportunities that this
counterproductive to a healthy future.
a few have participated in college-level
organization has given me and opened
strings programs. Progress consultations,
doors to, that I decided to come back to
to young people regardless of gender, race,
informal surveys and performance
help the next generation of AFLS students
family income, ethnic background, religious
assessments suggest participants are
and help the organization as a whole.”
traditions or disabilities, the organization’s
better focused as students, are inspired
main mission is to create opportunities for
to achieve more, and show more
Although AFLS programs are available
Hear 901 Featured Top UofM Talent This year’s Hear 901 featured some of
After having reached one million
Iron & Wine, Fleet Foxes and Half Moon
the hottest acts the University of Memphis
streams on Spotify, The Band CAMINO
Run, Aaron’s music explores the never-
has to offer. A production of Blue TOM
took the stage performing new music
ending journey of finding yourself.
Records, part of the Rudi E. Scheidt School
for their fans from their recently released
of Music, the festival was held at The Bluff,
album Heaven. They built a strong local
Memphis Ukulele Band and the Mason
a new music venue on South Highland.
fan base with their debut album, My
Jar Fireflies, Kyndle McMahan has made
Title sponsor for this year’s festival was
Thoughts on You, landing them a slot in
a name for herself in Memphis. Her
Green Machine Concerts. Produced
the 2016 Beale Street Music Festival.
incredible voice has led to a strong local
Indie folk artist Aaron James
performance schedule and landed her in
lineup included The Band CAMINO, Aaron
celebrated the release of his album
David Porter’s Consortium MMT program
James, Kyndle McMahan, Sonic Pulse,
Caught in the Corner of a Half Moon, at
as an Emerging Star.
Flirting with Sincerity and Haley Daniels.
the festival. Inspired by folk storytellers like
entirely by UofM students, the show’s
Already known for her role in the
(continued on page 18) ccfa.memphis.edu VOICES 17
IN THE COMMUNITY (continued from page 17)
Formerly Altars Ego, Sonic Pulse is a
to Memphis and joined forces with
from SZA, Leon and Alessia Cara. Her
four-piece rock band based in Memphis.
Tony Forte and Casey Triplett. Although
interest in diverse genres of music
Originally from Los Angeles, brothers
compared to Pearl Jam and The Eagles,
developed her sound of Soul-R&B Pop.
Brandon and Tommie Closson moved
Sonic Pulse has created a sound that is all
Centering on self-reliance, Haley’s music
their own.
expresses a message of being able to love
Flirting with Sincerity won the
yourself with no limitations.
Mississippi Music Foundation’s New Artist of the Year award in 2015 and
Blue TOM Records, a record label
was nominated the following year for
managed entirely by UofM students. In
Songwriter of the Year. They take their
addition to producing this festival, the
admiration for theatrics, jazz, metal, soul
student label releases new albums every
and classic rock, and incorporate them all
year and produces the annual This Is
into their musical language.
Memphis music festival held in the fall.
Haley Daniels is an up-and-coming Photo credit: Adrian Berryhill
Hear 901 is produced yearly by
singer-songwriter with musical influences
Go to bluetomrecords.com for more information.
Professor Provides Background for TED Talks Graphic Design Assistant Professor Brandon Bell, working with photographer
Theatre in New York.
live camel in the heart of Times Square.
The background involved a full-stage
The physical set design was by NYC-
Sarah Rossi and animator Dan Baker,
video screen with the content created by
based Seth Easter Design and consisted
created a backdrop for three TED Talks
Bell and his team in Memphis. Hosted
entirely of LED screens wrapping the stage.
Live videos filmed at the Town Hall
by producer and comedian Baratunde
The screens were filled with animations,
Thurston and actor and singer Sara
video, and photography that Bell, Rossi
Ramirez, the three programs, “TED Talks:
and Baker designed. It was programmed
Education Revolution,” “TED Talks: War &
on-site by New York-based Peter Acken.
Peace” and “TED Talks: Science & Wonder”
Background images used in a TED Talk were shot at Idlewild Elementary in Midtown.
Bell and Rossi photographed some of
featured talks by educators, war veterans,
the material for the series at the University
journalists, scientists, artists and actors.
of Memphis, Memphis Equipment
They also showcased performances by
Company and Idlewild Elementary.
Meshell Ndegeocello, Anna Devere Smith,
For more information, go to
Rufus Wainwright, and an appearance by a
pbs.org/program/ted-talks.
Photography Honors Class Took Trip to Japan This summer, David Horan, photography instructor and faculty advisor,
Photography in Japan: Temples, Shrines
took 20 honors students to Japan for a
and Peace Parks.”
study abroad trip to study Japanese culture
Hiraizumi Temple 18 VOICES Fall 2017
spring and suggested by Horan called “Zen
The students are from a variety of
and religion (Shinto and Buddhism) and
majors, but among them are five students
to document temples and shrines. The
from the College of Communication and
experience was the culmination of a newly
Fine Arts. They include Film and Video
created 14-week course offered in the
Production student Louis Day in the
Department of Communication; Graphic
and daily life while getting accustomed
Nagano, while refining digital imaging skills
Design student Breanna Parker, Photography
to and comfortable with the unfamiliar
during scheduled lab times.
student Kristin Smith and Painting student
environment. They then went to their
Sadie Tomes in the Department of Art; and
host institution, J.F. Oberlin University, in
at least 10 significant images and kept a
Music Industry student Michael Whitehead in
the Tokyo suburb of Machida, where they
journal of their experiences, as well as notes
the Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music.
had access to digital photo facilities and
concerning history and culture. A formal
First, the students traveled through
housing. They ventured out regularly to
written presentation accompanied each
Kyoto, Hiroshima, Miyaiima and Nara to get
visit shrines, temples, cultural sites and
portfolio. At the end of the trip, a final class
an introduction to Japanese culture, food
museums and took a two-day trip to
exhibition was held at Oberlin in Tokyo.
Each student produced a portfolio of
Community Art Academy Held at Library Art Education faculty and students in
the six-week program attracted 23
reception was held in the library’s gallery
the Department of Art collaborated with
participants, ages 9-12. Each week, the
and the completed works of art were
the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library for
program provided participants a free, high-
displayed in the gallery during April. Each
the spring Community Art Academy. The
quality art program that supported literacy
participant received a t-shirt, sketchbook
program provides weekly art lessons to
development and the visual arts. Art alums
and book at the closing reception.
participants from public, private and home
Jenny Hornby (MA) and Dolly Herciuk
school environments, giving Art Education
(BFA) were contacts for the program.
majors the opportunity to teach in a community setting. Funded by the Friends of the Library,
Art Education majors taught art lessons including: watercolor painting, puppets,
For more information about the Community Art Academy or Art Education please contact Dr. Bryna Bobick, bbobick@memphis.edu.
collage, ceramics and book arts. A closing
Kallen Esperian: Vissi d’arte Kallen Esperian: Vissi d’arte, an
“When the festival director first
invitation to join me at the screening ...
hour-long documentary by Department of
contacted me to let me know that the
and to perform a few arias following the
Communication Professor Steve Ross, was
film had been selected, we started talking
film and Q&A,” Ross said.
featured at the American Documentary
about Kallen, and what a wonderful
Film Festival in Palm Springs, California.
presence she is. I told him how terrific it
Ross, Esperian and Beard attended a
The film chronicles the ongoing comeback
was when she and her accompanist Gary
special screening of the film at Memphis
by famed Memphis-based opera singer
Beard performed a few numbers following
Brooks Museum of Art. The film was also
Kallen Esperian. Ross, Esperian and Gary
the closing night screening of the film at
broadcast on WKNO.
Beard, her accompanist, attended the
this year’s Indie Memphis film festival. He
event.
asked for their contact information, and
After returning from Palm Springs,
For more information about the film, email Ross at sjross@memphis.edu.
within a few days they had accepted his
Overton Selected GRAMMY Signature School Overton High School, one of the
Enterprise Award by the GRAMMY
Part of the GRAMMY in the Schools,
College of Communication and Fine
Museum. Overton was one of seven
The GRAMMY Signature Schools program
Arts adopted schools, has been selected
economically underserved schools in the
was created in 1998 to recognize public
for a 2017 GRAMMY Signature Schools
U.S. chosen for this honor.
high schools that make an outstanding (continued on page 20) ccfa.memphis.edu VOICES 19
IN THE COMMUNITY (continued from page 19)
commitment to music education during
2017 GRAMMY Signature Schools
2017 GRAMMY Signature Schools
an academic school year. Each school
Enterprise Awards supported by the
Enterprise Awards supported by the
received a custom award and monetary
Chuck Lorre Family Foundation • Culver City High School—Culver City, California • Huntington Park High School— Huntington Park, California • Manual Arts High School—Los Angeles • Robert Fulton College Preparatory School—Van Nuys, California
Ford Motor Company Fund • East Anchorage High School—Anchorage, Alaska • Chicago Military Academy at Bronzeville— Chicago • Overton High School—Memphis, Tennessee
grant to help its music program. The GRAMMY Museum is a non-profit organization dedicated to cultivating a greater understanding of the history and significance of music.
Oak Elementary Art Exhibit on Display at the UofM Artwork from students at Oak
King Tutankhamen. She was able to do so
real linen and antiquities. I decided to ask if
Elementary School in Bartlett was on
because of a grant from the Tennessee Arts
the art work the students produced could be
display in the Art and Communication
Commission for Arts Integration.
displayed on campus.” The students created
Building this past spring. The special exhibition was the result
“As I began planning the project,
six golden mummies and Tutor asked if
the thought occurred to me that the
the work could be displayed at the UofM.
of a request by Department of Art alum
University of Memphis has an Institute of
“Originally there were seven, but apparently,
Amanda Tutor (BFA ’03), art teacher at
Egyptian Art & Archaeology, and we are so
a marauding group of kindergarteners
the local school. She wanted to teach her
fortunate to have this unique field of study
damaged one of the pictures beyond
favorite art project from her elementary
in our community,” Tutor said. “I wanted
repair partway through its creation,” joked
school days, the creation of a life-sized
the students to be exposed to as much
Podzorski after the exhibition ended.
model of the front of the sarcophagus of
authentic information as possible and meet real Egyptologists.”
IEAA hosted a reception for the students so their friends and families could see their
Dana McKelvy, a College of
work. Dr. Cathy Wilson, Tutor’s childhood
Communication and Fine Arts donor,
art teacher and inspiration behind the art
graduate of the Department of History and
project, attended the event as well.
an auditing art history student, spoke to the students. “She did a fabulous job with our students,” Tutor said. “She brought books,
For more information about art history, go to memphis.edu/art. For more information about IEAA, go to memphis.edu/egypt.
Music Professor Takes Students to Memphis in Poland Festival Dr. Marcin Arendt, violin professor in
and Sopot are sister cities about a half hour
international audience in the Baltic region’s
the Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music, led a
drive apart from each other in northern
festival capital.
group of University of Memphis musicians
Poland.
during a concert at the Memphis in Poland
The idea for the Memphis in Poland
The long term aim of the festival will be to solidify partnership between the regions
Festival at the legendary Forest Opera in
Festival was conceived after the 2015
that will flourish for many years to come,
Sopot, Poland, June 2017.
Memphis in May International Festival,
providing opportunities for educational and
saluting Poland that year. The purpose
cultural exchanges, facilitating commerce
musicians led musical master classes for
of the festival is to share music, arts
and promoting tourism.
students at the Gdansk University. Gdansk
and culture native to Memphis with an
In addition to the concert, the
20 VOICES Fall 2017
NEWS & NOTES
ARCHITECTURE About 20 architecture students participated in an educational trip to see the award-winning design of the rain garden at City Hall in Germantown. The design was by landscape architecture firm Dalhoff Thomas Design. The American Institute of Architects Student Chapter regularly offers students at least one, usually two, off-campus professional development opportunities each month in addition to one on-campus lecture or activity. These activities help provide valuable learning experiences for students and helps build relationships with participating design firms.
FACULTY Jim Williamson was selected the 2017 Francis Gassner Award winner from the Memphis Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). Awarded annually since 1977, the “Gassner” is the highest award AIA Memphis gives to individuals.
STUDENTS Brock Terwilleger, a BFA in architecture student, was one of 60 members of the American Institute of Architecture Students worldwide selected to participate in a special three-day workshop at Disney Imagineering Studios. AIAS Imagine: Top 60-at-60 is an honor that showcases top AIAS students.
ART The department hosted a campus field trip for Rozelle CAPA students. During the trip, BFA students discussed their work that was on display for their senior exhibition, sharing their process with the students. Art faculty Beth Edwards and Greely Myatt also discussed art and their processes, and answered questions from students. Bryan Blankenship, 3D Shop technician, made ceramic pieces to show students and demonstrate the process of creativity.
FACULTY Beth Edwards won the 2017 UofM Alumni Association Distinguished Teaching Award. Her most recent major exhibition, “Encounters,” was at the Grisham Gallery in the Huntsville Museum of Art, Huntsville, Ala. Richard A. Lou, chair, won the 2017 UofM Alumni Association Distinguished Achievement in the Creative Arts Award. Lou was also recognized this year by his alma mater Clemson University where he received his MFA in 1986. He was inducted as part of the founding class of the College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities Hall of Fame for his contributions to the fine arts. Bryna Bobick won the 2017 UofM Dean’s Award for Excellence in Engaged Scholarship. She most recently published Handbook of Research on the Facilitation of Civic Engagement through Community Art (co-edited with Leigh Hersey, IGI Global, 2017). Bryna also co-authored a paper with Jenny Hornby (MA ‘10) called “A Survey of Teen Museum Education Participants and their Parents” for The Clearing House: A Journal of Educational Strategies, Issues and Ideas. Earnestine Jenkins won the 2017 UofM Dean’s Award for Outstanding Research. She most recently published “Race, Representation, and Photography in 19th Century Memphis: From Emancipation to Jim Crow” (Ashgate 2016). K. Brandon Bell contributed stage projection design to Lincoln Center's The American Songbook Gala honoring CBS. Hosted by James Corden, the live event was the opening night of the annual four-month Lincoln Center’s American Songbook series. Virginia Solomon spoke at Dixon Gallery & Gardens on “Defined by Difference – American Art and American Identity.” She also gave a gallery tour of LGBTQ artwork at Memphis Brooks Museum of Art.
Beth Edwards gave a mini-retrospective at Rhodes College called “Over Time.” It included work from 1993 to the present.
ALUMNI Jody Stokes-Casey (MA and Graduate Certificate ‘14) had an essay published in the Winter 2016 issue of Tennessee Historical Quarterly titled “Richard Lou’s ReCovering Memphis: Conceptual Iconoclasm of the Nathan Bedford Forrest Monument.” The original paper was drafted as a final project for the course ARTH 7140 Graduate Problems: Renaissance Iconoclasm taught by Todd Richardson. Twins Jerry and Terry Lynn (BFA ‘01) were featured in Nashville Arts Magazine for their exhibition at the Tennessee Arts Commission Gallery. The twins are a phenomenon in the art world, known for their unique style of painting that is perfectly in sync during their simultaneous collaborations.
STUDENTS Graphic Design students Benjamin Ardon, Kaitlyn Hoover and Catherine Knowles worked with Assistant Professor K. Brandon Bell on video animations for the Crosstown Concourse Grand Opening event that took place in August. The motion graphics were included in a documentary on the history and revitalization of the building, produced and directed by Crosstown Arts’ Justin Thompson.
COMMUNICATION FACULTY Christina Moss has won the Southern States Communication Association John I. Sisco Award for Excellence in Teaching. The award honors members who have consistently demonstrated excellence in teaching communication throughout their academic careers. This fall, Christina joins the UofM main campus faculty as assistant (continued on page 22) ccfa.memphis.edu VOICES 21
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professor of Rhetoric and Gender Studies. She was previously a lecturer at the Lambuth campus. Sandra Sarkela, former department interim chair, received the 2016 Tennessee Communication Association Outstanding Graduate Mentor Award. Katherine Hendrix and Flora Wei (PhD ‘05) published their essay “Minority and Majority Faculty Members in a Historically Black College/University: Redefining Professors’ Teacher Credibility and Classroom Management” in the online journal Qualitative Research Reports in Communication. Katherine is co-editor of a special issue of the journal, Communication Education, focusing on diversity and instructional research. In addition to the editors’ introduction “Interrogating the Darkness” and a forum on diversity and scholarship on instructional communication, Katherine is co-author of the essay “The Contours of Progress: Parsing Diversity and Difference Studies.” Amanda Edgar’s essay “Commenting Straight from the Underground: N.W.A., Police Brutality, and YouTube as a Space for Neoliberal Resistance” was published in the September-October issue of the Southern Communication Journal. Andre Johnson’s essay “Teaching in Ferguson: A Rhetorical Autoethnography from a Scholar/Activist,” was published in the September-October issue of the Southern Communication Journal.
ALUMNI Ryan Earl Parker (BA ’01) was featured in an article in the Commercial Appeal about his move to New York to further his cinematography career. Ryan has a reputation in Memphis as being Memphis’ best. His most recent work, “Sweet, Sweet Lonely Girl,” directed by A.D. Calvo, debuted at Malco Studio on the Square in May. He has been part of the Grizzlies home game television crew since the team came to Memphis.
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Jeremy Donaldson (BA ‘13) was a finalist for the American Society of Cinematographers Student Award Competition for “Isa and the Frog Prince,” work he did in the grad program at Florida State University.
STUDENTS Undergraduate communication majors Adrianna Tucker, Mackenzie Joy, Devante Hubbard and Christian Brown’s film #CelebrateDiversity won Best Documentary at the Tennessee Communication Association annual meeting. The film was their final project in COMM 2101 Media & Information Literacy. Doctoral student Steven Gaines received the Tennessee Communication Association top graduate student paper award for his presentation “Constrained Prophetic Rhetoric: White Fragility and Radio Sermons in the Summer of 1968.”
INSTITUTE FOR EGYPTIAN ART & ARCHAEOLOGY “Reconstructing Eternity: Recent Epigraphic findings in the Forecourt of Ramesses II at Luxor Temple” was the title of the Institute of Egyptian Art & Archaeology’s lecture by University of Memphis student Erika Feleg, a PhD candidate in History.
JOURNALISM & STRATEGIC MEDIA At the 2016 alumni awards ceremony, the following awards were presented: Frank Thorsberg (BA ’78) received the Charles E. Thornton Award; Elise Mitchell (MA ’92) received the Charles E. Thornton Award; David Arant, JRSM chair received the Herbert Lee Williams Award; Megan Harris (BA ’11) received the Outstanding Young Alumna Award and Jonathan Capriel (BA ’17) received the Emerging Journalist Award.
FACULTY Matt Haught received the 2016 Mike Pennington Award for Outstanding Student Mentoring at the University of Memphis Journalism and Strategic Media Alumni Club awards dinner in October 2016. The award is given to the faculty member who has been an exemplary guide and mentor to students and is named in memory of Mike Pennington, who earned his bachelor’s degree at the UofM in 1972.
ALUMNI Addie James (BA ‘17) won a sliver ADDY award in February for her photographs in the winter/spring issue of Southern Bride Magazine. She was also one of six 2017 finalists for the Dean’s Creative Achievement Award. Jonathan Capriel (BA ’17) was recognized for his investigative piece “University of Memphis Paid More Than $2.3 Million to Run Mostly Empty Busses,” which appeared in The Daily Helmsman in April 2016. Jasmine Hockett (BA ‘14) is the Digital Marketing and Communications manager at Meharry Medical College of Graduate Studies and Research in Nashville and communications director for Grammy award- winning artist, Don Flemmons, as well as a Huffington Post blogger. She also does digital content management for Valerie June Tunes Inc. Amelia Ables (MA ‘15) was hired as assistant account executive at KQ Communications, where she will support and execute public relations, marketing and social media plans. Fabiola Cervantes (BA ’11) was featured in an article in the Memphis Daily News about her work helping connect and empower Memphis’ 81,000 Latino residents and the pride she has in her heritage.
STUDENTS Derrick Arrington, Brittany Lee, Nicole Johnson, Summer Spencer, Daniel Thompson and Charles Bettnedorf represented the UofM at the District 7 portion of the National Advertising Student Competition. The students pitched an original advertising campaign, which included marketing and advertising research by the students, for Tai Pei Frozen Foods. Jeff Carter, known as “Sketchy Jeffy,” took first place in the Society of Professional Journalists regional Mark of Excellence awards for editorial cartooning. He was honored for his cartoon of Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton trading barbs after the first presidential debate in October 2016. He will be considered for the national Mark of Excellence Award during the national SPJ conference in September. The staff of The Daily Helmsman was recognized for being Best All Around Daily Campus Newspaper at the Society of Professional Journalists regional convention. Also at the convention, reporter and design editor Brittany Wolfe ranked eighth, reporter Makayla Boswell ranked seventh and reporter John Klyce ranked fourth in the “Best Feature Writing” category.
RUDI E. SCHEIDT SCHOOL OF MUSIC FACULTY Since November, Jack Cooper has hosted “The Voice of Jazz” on WUMR 91.7 FM, a focused presentation of historically significant jazz music and artists plus new releases. Ken Kreitner is one of a team of international music historians working on a project entitled “The Anatomy of Late 15thCentury and Early 16th-Century Iberian Polyphonic Music.” The team includes researchers based in CESEM at the Lisbon NOVA University, Portugal, Institució Milà I Fontanals, Barcelona, Spain, and the University of Oxford, UK.
Armand Hall presented at the Tennessee Music Education Association All-State Conference and the All-West Conference. He taught at camps in Traverse City, Mich., and at the Archipelago Chamber Music Festival. Armand was selected for the PRIZM ensemble Board of Directors and the CBDNA/NBA/MFA Title I Mentorship Sub-Committee. Heather Klossner made presentations at the Texas Music Educators Conference, Eastman School of Music, the Capital Area Orff Chapter of the American Orff Schulwerk Association in Austin, Texas, and the Galena Park districts in Houston, Texas, and at the American Orff Schulwerk Association National Conference in Atlantic City, N.J.. She was also awarded the Donald J. Shetler Prize for Excellence in Music Education, Eastman School of Music, Rochester, N.Y. Elise Blatchford went to Yale University in October to begin work with harpist/ composer Hannah Lash on developing new duos for flute and harp. The pair will perform at Yale again in February. Other activities include concerts and master classes at Indiana University, University of Kentucky, Middle Tennessee State University, University of Southern Mississippi, and concerts in New York and Boston with her wind quintet, the City of Tomorrow. She was also involved in the creation of the Greater Memphis Flute Association, a local group that supports the development of middle and high school flute players and works to increase opportunities for networking and development for local professionals. Ryan Fisher was recently awarded the 2016 Lee University School of Music Distinguished Alumnus Award. He was selected to serve on the Update: Applications of Research in Music Education editorial board and as the Higher Education chair for the Tennessee Music Education Association. He received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Lee University School of Music. He also conducted various honor choirs in Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee.
ALUMNI Percussionist Benny Reiner (attended 2008-10) is playing in the orchestra for the Broadway hit Hamilton. He was recommended by a drummer in the Broadway community to Alex Lacamoire, orchestrator and music supervisor of the show. He is also an artist representative for three instrument manufacturers— Sabian cymbals, Vic Firth drumsticks and Craviotto drums. He exclusively uses these instruments. Jeremy Warren (BM ’12) released his premiere recording album I Can Do All Things. The album features prominent performers and composers such as Andy Milne, Lenny Pickett, Leon Marin and Jack Cooper and mixes jazz with elements of contemporary popular music. It is a personal journey of overcoming life’s challenges through music. Jeremy taught elementary music in Shelby County before moving to attend New York University in 2013, earning his master’s in 2015. He has performed and recorded with a variety of big name jazz artists. Alumna Delara Hashemi (MM ‘16, flute performance) performs regularly as a substitute flutist for the Memphis Symphony Orchestra. Several 2016 music education graduates received teaching jobs in the area. They are Kinsey Moline (BM ‘16), Colonial Middle School choir director; Chris Weiner (BM ‘16), Millington Elementary music teacher; Cheryl Kelley-Henderson (PhD ‘16), Upper School assistant principal of KIPP Memphis Collegiate Schools. Mark Snyder (DMA ‘07) performed a multimedia recital in fall 2016 at Penn State University. He is assistant professor of Music at the University of Mary Washington teaching courses in electronic music, composition and theory.
STUDENTS Students from our Vocal Arts Division returned winners from the National (continued on page 24) ccfa.memphis.edu VOICES 23
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Association of Teachers of Singing Auditions held at Union University in Jackson, Tenn., in October 2016. Winners included undergraduates Garrett Addington and Emma Wieland, students of Susan Owen-Leinert, and Gabriella Galletti, student of Kyle Ferrill. Our graduate level students also brought home first place prizes: Jacob Paul, Andrew Harper and Sarah Harper, all students of Ferrill. Amber Joy Cleveland, a senior instrumental music education student, was awarded “Outstanding Collegiate Member” by the Tennessee Music Education Association for her leadership as president of the UofM National Association of Music Educators (NAfME) chapter.
Naomi Ziegler, a senior instrumental music education student, received the “Collegiate Leadership Award” from the Tennessee Music Education Association. PhD music education student, Nancy Summitt, is serving as coordinator of Music Education at the University of Tennessee Martin.
THEATRE & DANCE The department brought Tony-nominated lyricist/composer Amanda Green to The Halloran Centre at The Orpheum in November 2016 for a one-night event. The daughter of legendary Broadway lyricist/playwright Adolph Green (Singin’ in the Rain and On the Town) discussed her
illustrious Broadway career and her father’s legacy, as well as performed songs from her own solo show.
ALUMNI Pablo Guerra-Monje (MFA' 00), associate professor at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith. His invention, The Focus Buddy, was selected for the 2017 Technical Invention Prize exhibition by the International Organization of Scenographers, Theatre Architects and Technicians. The selected entries was exhibited at 2017 Technical Invention Prize Exhibition during 2017 World Stage Design on July 1-9 at Taipei National University of the Arts in Taipei, Taiwan.
Calling all donors, alumni and students! Send news and notes to ccfa@memphis.edu.
IN MEMORIAM We would like to honor some friends of CCFA who have passed away since the last year’s of Voices was published. Former UofM Band Director Sydney “Doc” McKay, 79, passed away in August 2016. Doc was a major influence in the Mid-South and national music community during his 44-year career, including 28 at the UofM. He spent his life dedicated to inspiring his students to make music and was known for judging band events and hosting musical clinics around the country, Mexico, Europe and Japan. While at the UofM he helped revive the Bandmasters Championship, moving it to its current home at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. He was inducted into the Tennessee Bandmaster Association Hall of Fame in 2015. He was awarded the National Band Association’s Citation of Excellence award, and he received their Mentor of the Year award in 2001. He retired from the UofM in 2003.
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William Christenberry, 80, passed away in November 2016. Photographer and painter, Bill was faculty member in the Department of Art in the 1960s. He was famous for his photos of the South taken with his Brownie camera, simple and inexpensive camera made by Eastman Kodak. After moving to Washington, D.C. in 1968, he returned to Memphis on several occasions over the years to guest lecture. William was the 1996 recipient of the College of Communication and Fine Arts Distinguished Achievement Award in the Creative and Performing Arts.
If you would like to give in honor of an alum, student or faculty member, please call 901.678.3953 or go to memphis.edu/give
THANK YOU The faculty and staff of CCFA would like to thank you, our donors, for your continued support of our programs and activities through your generous donations. Because of your kindness, we are able to provide the best education to our students, as well as quality performances, concerts and exhibitions to our community. We cordially invite you to take a tour, visit our facilities or come to one of our events to see the results of your generosity. For more information, visit us online at memphis.edu/ccfa or call 901.678.2350.
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