September_CollegeNews24

COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS AND COMMUNICATION SEPTEMBER ISSUE | FALL 2024 CONTENTS ART AND DESIGN [PG. 2] DANCE [PG. 8] MUSIC [PG. 12] COMMUNICATION STUDIES [PG. 6] JOURNALISM AND MASS COMMUNICATION [PG. 10] THEATRE [PG. 17] LETTER FROM THE DEAN DR. JOHN FLEMING This fall, Texas State welcomed a record freshmen class of 8165 students and set an enrollment record of 40,678 students. This edition of College News features accolades from late last spring and over the summer. Cover includes the Netflix documentary Going Varsity in Mariachi , which features Mariachi student Abigail C. Garcia (p.16), Cindy Royal earning a $2.6M NSF grant (p. 11), and Theatre being named the #25 Drama program in the world (p. 20)! A sampling of other highlights: • In Art and Design (pp. 2-5), faculty presented their art and research in Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Sacramento, St. Louis, across Texas, as well as in Virginia, Colorado, and New York. Internationally, their work was presented in Germany, France, and Colombia. In addi-tion, 3 faculty were selected for the Texas Biennial Exhibition. • In Communication Studies (pp.6-7), Jasmine Austin received a Distinguished Edited Book Award from the National Communication Association, while Stephanie Dailey co-authored a chapter in a different book that won an Outstanding Edited Book Award. One of Marek Mul-ler’s publications was featured in Teen Vogue. • In Dance (pp.8-9), Ana Baer exhibited her screen dances in Australia, Brazil, Mexico, Italy, Portugal, and South Africa. Jonathan “JayWAN” Pattiwael performed in Austria, Belgium, Germany, Indonesia, and the Netherlands. Other faculty presented their work in New York, California, Washington, Canada, and at Burning Man. • In Journalism and Mass Communication (pp. 10- 11), Cindy Royal is Co-PI on a $2.6 million National Science Foundation grant. Nandini Bhalla and Michel Haigh hold leadership positions with the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, while Larry Carlson now advises the Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame. University Star students are finalists for 6 College Media Association Awards and an Associated Collegiate Press Award. Students won 5 of the 7 scholarships awarded by the San Antonio chapter of the Society of Profession-al Journalists. Student work was featured in the Austin American- Statesman’s 2nd anniver-sary coverage of the Uvalde school shooting. • In Music (pp.12-17), Amanda Soto was the Keynote Speaker at an International Early Child-hood Music conference, while Alec Scherer presented research in Finland. Ian Davidson and Vanguel Tangarov performed in Ireland, Ames Asbell in Brazil, and Ron Ulen performed or presented in Indonesia, Italy, Germany, and Great Britain. Suzanne Ramo helped launch a summer program in Venice, while Craig Hella Johnson completed his first summer with the Oregon Bach Festival, while his Grammy-winning company Conspirare released a new CD. Read also about jazz highlights relating to Hank Hehmsoth, Eddie Durham, and Joel Frahm. • In Theatre (pp.18-20), Bryan Poyser won multiple film accolades, while alums were very busy. Lily Kren performed at the Tony Awards; Rachel Webb plays the lead in the national tour of & Juliet; Ashlyn Maddox performed at The Kennedy Center; Laura Herman is in the national tour of Back to the Future: The Musical; Jacob Burns performed at the American Repertory Theatre; and Jordan Faniel won Best Screenplay at ATX Shorts. • Finally, the inside back cover features a link to our first-ever Alumni Edition of College Re-port. Check out its “Letter from the Dean” to learn more about it. My congratulations and gratitude to all. COVER PHOTO: Mariachi documentary , Cindy Royal, and The Theatre Department. [PG . 1 1 , 16 , 20]