Dean’s Letter
A
s we begin the fall semester, we have returned to in-person instruction at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Last year had been a challenging year spent mostly apart during this global pandemic. We
look forward to gathering together in person again to share performances, concerts, exhibitions and all the ways that the arts bring meaning to our communities. We missed our audiences last year and are eager to welcome you back to campus to enjoy the arts in person safely again. In this issue of our Hixson-Lied College magazine, we introduce plans for our new music building for the Glenn Korff School of Music, scheduled to open in 2025. We are also highlighting the UNL Dance Program in the Glenn Korff School of Music. They recently moved into beautiful new facilities in the Johnny Carson Center for Emerging Media Arts. We are so grateful to the support of our alumni and friends who understand the value of dance at Nebraska as that program grows and thrives. We also have an update on the partnership between the Nebraska Repertory Theatre and the St. Louis Black Repertory Company, which will culminate in a special performance this season of Dantrell, Who Kissed the Sea. Finally, we feature a faculty profile of Marques L.A. Garrett, whose research helps elevate the work of black choral composers. All of these good things would not be possible without your support. In September, I announced that I will be stepping down after nearly a decade as
Photo by Madeline Cass.
dean of the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts on Jan. 3, 2022. I plan to return to my full-time faculty role in the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film. It’s been an honor and privilege to see the transformations in our academic programs. At 10 years, I feel assured that we are on track to achieve all that we set out to do. I am forever grateful to the faculty, staff, students, university leadership and our community of supporters for the opportunity they gave me to lead this special college. Thank you again for your support.
Chuck O’Connor Hixson-Lied Endowed Dean twitter: @charlesoconnor
