November_CollegeNews24

2 | November & December | College News COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS AND COMMUNICATION NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER ISSUE | FALL 2024 LETTER FROM THE DEAN DR. JOHN FLEMING On the cover, Mariachi Nueva Generación, in their new trajes, won the 30th Annual Mariachi Extravaganza National Group Competition (p.15). Faculty, students, and alumni continue to be leaders in their field. A sample of highlights in this edition includes: Grants: Molly Sherman received an international Research Fellowship (p.3), eleven faculty won TXST Research Enhancement grants (p.7), and Hank Hehmsoth earned an Aaron Copland grant (p.14). Awards: Jasmine Austin won the National Communication Association Presidential Citation Award (p.4); Jessica James won an award from the San Marcos Chamber of Commerce (p.11); Laura Krantz won a College Media Association Service Award (p.12); Betty Buckley was recognized by Women in Film Dallas, and Linda Nenno Breining won a B. Iden Payne Award (p.16). Publications: Joshua Duttweiler (p.2), Gina Tarver (p.3), Elizabeth Eger, Manu Pokharel (p.5), Clay Craig (p.10), and Ana Martinez (p.16) published articles or book chapters, while Vaness Higgins Joyce published a new book (p.10). Creative Activity: Tamara Johnson had a piece acquired by the St. Louis Art Museum (p.2), while Joshua Duttweiler, Brian Johnson, and Mark Menjivar were part of art exhibits (pp.2-3); Ana Baer presented screen dances in nine countries (p.8); Ian Davidson performed in NYC (p.14), and Yesenia Herrington performed at the Austin Film Festival 9p.16). Students: Ethan Iselt was selected as a Super Bowl Host Ambassador (p.6); University Star students won six awards from the College Media Association and another from the Associated College Press, while KTSW students won three awards from the College Broadcasters, Inc. (pp.12-13); Garrett Douglas won the Graduate College’s Outstanding Master’s Thesis Award, while 14 Music students were semi-finalists or finalists at the Texoma NATS regional competition (p.15); and two theatre students won writing awards (p.17). Alumni: Sarah Dodds earned her 7th Grammy Nomination for Best Recording Package (p.3); Damon Sayles was a big winner on Wheel of Fortune (p.13); Megan Tapia won a Teacher of the Year Award (p.13); Stephen Knight won CNN’s 2024 Hero of the Year Award, Ryan Scarlata teaches at the first performing arts academy in the Middle East, Kailey Hyman co-stars in the new film Screamboat, and Max de Berardine is a new Assistant Professor at Loyola Marymount (p.17) Other: Check out the nine Faculty recognized by the university for “Faculty Authored Books”, works published during the 2023-24 academic year (pp. 18-21), and my thanks to Nikki Saldivar Hodgson and students in Comm’s Career Readiness program for sponsoring a food drive to support Bobcat Bounty (p. 6). A blessed holiday to all, John Fleming, Dean COVER PHOTO: Mariachi Nueva Generación takes first prize at 30th Annual Extravaganza National Group Competition