November December 2023 College News

CONTENTS ART AND DESIGN [PG. 2] DANCE [PG. 10] MUSIC [PG. 14] COMMUNICATION STUDIES [PG. 6] JOURNAL ISM AND MASS COMMUNICATION [PG. 12] THEATRE [PG. 18] COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS AND COMMUNICATION DECEMBER ISSUE | FAL L 2023 | HOLIDAY EDITION f inearts.t xstate.edu facebook.com/t xstcollegefac instagram.com/t xstfac twitter.com/t xstfac youtube.com/t xstatecollegefac FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA! LETTER FROM THE DEAN DR. JOHN FLEMING As we close the fall 2023 semester, we congratulate the nearly 400 CoFAC students who are now alumni of Texas State University! • This month’s cover celebrates our inaugural episode of “In Conversation With…” featuring Distinguished Alumnus Thomas Carter, a 3-time Emmy Winner who has directed 5 feature films and episodes for more than 50 different television show. For a link to the inverview see page 19. • In Art and Design (pp.2-3), faculty exhibited their art and/or presented their research in Ohio, Virginia, New York, Austin, San Antonio, and Italy. Current student Liliya Kvatsabaya was a roundtable participant at the World Library Congress in Lithuania. Also, see the feature on alumnus Noe Garza. • In Communication Studies (pp.6-8), Ann Burnette and Elizabeth Eger published articles, while Manu Pokharel won a Top Paper Award. Jeremy Hutchins was elected Vice President of the Texas Speech Communication Association, while Joshua Miller was elected Vice Chair of the Rhetoric and Communication Theory division. Roseann Mandziuk serves as the Immediate Past President of the National Communication Association. • In Dance (p.10-11), Jonathan Pattiwael is performing in Portugal, while Ana Baer exhibited her screen dances in Brazil, Venezuela, Mexico, Japan, and Greece. We also celebrate the career of LeAnne Smith who is fully retiring after 40 years here, including 15 as Director of the division of Dance. • In Journalism and Mass Communication (pp.12- 13), Nandini Bhalla and Ali Forbes published articles, while Kelly Kaufhold serves as Vice President and Research Chair of the Southwest Education Council COVER PHOTO: On the set of "In Coversation With..." [ P G . 1 9 ] for Journalism and Mass Communication. Jenny Buschhorn took four students to New York to participate in American Advertising Federation events where they met with top agencies and recruiters. Students with KTSW won four College Broadcasters National Student Production Awards and three College Media Association Pinnacle Awards. • In Music (pp.14-17), as Artistic Director of Conspirare, Craig Hella Johnson earned his 11th Grammy nomination. Nico Schüler, Kevin Mooney, Alec Scherer, and Amanda Soto presented research nationally and/or internationally. Dimitar Ninov’s composition was performed in Bulgaria, while Ian Davidson and Daris Hale performed in Brazil. Our mariachi ensembles participated in the 30th Las Cruces International Mariachi Conference, with Mariachi Nuevo Generación winning the top mariachi ensemble award, and Elma Garcia winning the Gastelum Vocal Scholarship as top vocalist. • In Theatre (pp.18-21), Annie Silverstein’s short film won the #MyJustice Film Award at the Doc NYC Film Festival, and Ana Martinez won a targeted research grant from the American Society for Theater Research where she delivered a plenary presentation. Four alumni performed in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. • Eight faculty were just announced as recipients of the university’s Research Enhancement Grant program, helping the College be the 3rd most awarded unit in FY24 (p. 9). • Our retrospective “Faculty Authored Books” recognizes the 7 faculty who published 9 books during the 2022-23 academic year (pp. 22-23). • Our other retrospective, “Bobcats on Broadway,” recognizes the 12 alumni who performed on Broadway during 2023 as well as 10 alumni who performed in Broadway national tours (pp. 24-25). A blessed holiday to all!