Leadership Changes at Uarts

January 2015

Leadership Changes at UArts

UArts has appointed Professor of Humanities Catherine Gunther Kodat (left) as acting provost, effective January 1, 2015. Kodat, who joined the University in 2012 as dean of the Division of Liberal Arts, will serve in this role while Provost Kirk E. Pillow serves as interim president following Sean Buffington's departure. Associate Professor Jay Baker will serve as acting dean of Liberal Arts during this time. UArts has also announced the appointment of Richard M. Longo as vice president for Enrollment, Retention & Student Affairs. Longo, who will begin on January 20, joins UArts from Montserrat College of Art in Massachusetts. In addition, Professor Marc Dicciani BM '75 (Percussion), who was previously the director of the School of Music, has been named dean of the College of Performing Arts, while the appointment of Associate Professor Mark Campbell BFA '74 (Sculpture) as dean of the College of Art, Media & Design has been extended longterm. Assistant Professor Micah Jones will serve as interim director of the School of Music.

UArts Alum Matt McAndrew Has Spectacular Run on 'The Voice'

Congratulations to School of Music alumnus Matt McAndrew BM '13 (Vocal Performance) for his spectacular run on NBC singing competition "The Voice." McAndrew, a fan favorite and coach Adam Levine favorite throughout the entire seventh season of the hit show, came in second place. Every week, the 24yearold singer/songwriter and music teacher wowed both viewers and all four coaches with his heartfelt performances, each of which landed on the iTunes Top 200 Singles chart. McAndrew's original song, "Wasted Love," which he debuted on the December 15 live finale, was at No. 1 for several days after knocking Taylor Swift's megahit "Blank Space" from the chart's top spot.

Above right: "Perseverance" by Sharon Church, 2013; Castello boxwood, cherry branch, oxidized sterling silver, oxidized pure silver, dye, epoxy glue, renaissance wax and nickel pin clasps.

Professor to Create New Work for Rowan with $10K NEA Grant

Interdisciplinary Fine Arts Professor Jeanne Jaffe (left) has been commissioned to create a new sculpture by Rowan University Art Gallery for an exhibition in 2015. The commission is made possible by a $10,000 National Endowment for the Arts "Challenge America" grant awarded to the gallery. The installation focuses on the work of Nikola Tesla, who pioneered modern electrical engineering, and will be a collaboration with Rowan's College of Engineering.

Read an NJ.com article about the grant >>

Students, Faculty, Alumni and Staff Top Nominees List for BroadwayWorld Philadelphia Awards

Students, faculty, alumni and staff members from the University's Ira Brind School of Theater Arts topped the list of nominees for the 2014 BroadwayWorld Philadelphia Awards, announced by BroadwayWorld.com. Leading the list are awardwinning faculty/alum Ben Dibble BFA '00 (Musical Theater), who earned three nominations, and UArts Master Electrician Troy MartinO'Shia, who is up for two. Also on the nominees list are current students Jason Armstrong '16 (Musical Theater) for Best Actor in a Musical and Steven Burke '18 (Directing, Playwriting + Production) for Best Director of a Musical, both for "The Who's Tommy" by New Cavern Productions. Voting has just ended and winners will be announced soon.

Read more >> Above right: Jason Armstrong '16 (Musical Theater) [center] as Tommy.

Work by Crafts Alumna To Be Featured at Philly Airport

"Connections with Strangers," a 15,000 pinback button installation by UArts alumna Mackenzie Pikaart BFA '11 (Craft + Material Studies), has been selected to be shown at Philadelphia International Airport from February through August 2015 as part of its Art at the Airport program. Created from images taken from LIFE, National Geographic, Philadelphia Weekly and many other donated and trashpicked magazines, the buttons represent the brief moments that are the starting point or trigger of a larger picture or memory.