Your Support in Action COLLEGE OF FINE June 2017 & DESIGN Farewell to Dr. Washington Since 2013, Dean Pamela Washington, Ph.D., has helped steer CFAD in a direction of growth, expansion and excellence. We sadly bid her farewell as she enters retirement June 30. he impact Dean Pamela Washington, an open mind and knew I needed to listen. I with him and provost John Barthell, who has TPh.D., has had on the UCO community is had no preconceived notions or biases, and that been an incredible colleague for many, many immense, beginning in 1989, when she was contributed to what I was able to accomplish. years. I’ve just loved all the amazing, life-long hired as an English professor and director What was the biggest surprise when you first friendships I’ve built with so many colleagues. of freshman composition, and expanding joined CFAD? What do you think you’ll miss the most? with her roles as assistant dean (1999-2002), My biggest surprise was the amount of hidden The daily interactions with the wonderful staff associate dean (2002-04) and dean (2004-12) talent that exists in CFAD. There are phenomenal here in the CFAD Deans’ Office. I know the of the UCO College of Liberal Arts. During her artists, musicians and designers I didn’t know friendships will continue, but I’ll miss seeing four-year tenure as leader of CFAD, Washington existed before who go about being fabulous them every day, and I’ll miss helping faculty be championed the Build Mitchell Hall Campaign, without being center stage. The wealth of talent what they can be. I’ll miss being a helper. established an Advisory Board and Executive within CFAD was an incredible surprise. Council, helped oversee the reorganization of So, what are your plans after retirement? ACM@UCO as an academic unit of the college Looking back at your time at UCO, what are Daisy Folsom (UCO professor of theatre arts) has and much, much more. We are assured some things that really stick out in your mind? very graciously invited me to be the dramaturge Washington will still have a strong presence on All my favorite memories at UCO surround the for “Mousetrap” next spring, and Greg White campus after retirement as an ardent supporter people of UCO. Of course watching the Mitchell (assistant dean of CFAD) has asked me to of the arts, and we warmly share some of her Hall backstage facility be built from out of the dramaturge for “Man of La Mancha,” so I’ll stay parting words in the following interview. ground was a phenomenal experience, but I’ll involved that way. I plan to attend many CFAD also always remember that first convocation events and support our amazing students. I’m How do you feel your background in Liberal when Don Betz came back to be our president also going to write; I’ll pick up my writing career Arts helped prepare you for your current role? and he got a standing ovation. We were all so I put down when I became an administrator. I think it was the fact that I was unprepared that happy and are all still so happy that he is our Most importantly though, I’m going to be the made the most difference. I came with a dean president. It’s been an incredible honor to serve most awesome Grammy on the planet! skillset but not an art skillset, so I came in with Seen on the Scene We all loved seeing our alumni, patrons, donors and students at many CFAD events this year! Through a tough economic year, your attendance, support and generosity kept us going. Here are some memories from our favorite events of the 2016-17 academic year: SCENE: THE UCO EDMOND SCENE: DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARDS LUNCHEON JAZZ FESTIVAL We are proud of alumnus Jay Krottinger (second from the right) – who earned his B.A. and M.A. in musical theatre at UCO – for receiving the Distinguished Alumni Award this past November. Krottinger shares his gratitude for the mentors he had at Central, including (from left) Greg White, Ph.D., Marilyn Govich, D.M.A. and Billie Thrash. During the UCO Edmond Jazz Festival, CFAD students and faculty spent a week providing free entertainment throughout the Edmond SCENE: TOAST community – including a lunchtime performance at Covell Park Restaurant. THE MAESTRO SCENE: METRO MUSIC FEST As part of the eighth annual Metro Music Fest, sponsors and friends enjoyed the VIP area at We are always grateful to see so many wonderful Bricktown Brewery. We faces at our signature fundraising event for the love seeing the Vincent All-Steinway School Initiative, Toast the Maestro, family every year and are including (from left) Terri Davis, Porter Davis, Don grateful for the support Narcomey and Vicki VanStavern. they give through attendance and through the Sergeant Ryan Wood SCENE: SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS LUNCHEON ACM Memorial Endowed Scholarship, established in honor of their late son and brother. SCENE: SQUARED UP We enjoy getting to celebrate our scholarship donors at our annual Scholarship Awards Luncheon, including (from right) Ray Hibbard and David Hornbeek of Tres Amigos, who recently established their second CFAD scholarship, the Scott Booker Endowed Scholarship for ACM@UCO. This year, we hosted our inaugural design fundraising event Squared Up, which benefitted the Design Capital Improvements Fund. We appreciate the support of everyone who came out, mingled with our faculty and students and purchased designs, illustrations and art. College of Fine Arts and Design UCO Helps Impact Community NEWS We all loved seeing our alumni, patrons, donors and students at many CFAD events this year! Through a tough economic year, your Alongside Central Alumna attendance, support and generosity kept us going. Here are some memories from our favorite events of the 2016-17 academic year: CFAD Leadership: On April 1, 50 UCO student volunteers On July 1, we are excited to welcome the partnered with the charitable organization new dean of the College of Fine Arts and Focus on Home – founded by Central alumna Design, Steven Hansen, M.F.A. Hansen Joli Sanders – to help furnish homes for local comes to Edmond from Berrien Springs, families in need. Sanders, a professional interior Michigan, where he was a professor designer, decided to apply her talents to the and chairperson of the Visual Art, nonprofit sector through the creation of Focus Communication and Design Department on Home, which acquires donated household at Andrews University. He received his furnishings and then utilizes interior design bachelor’s degree from Andrews in to transform basic living arrangements into a painting and an M.F.A. from the University home for families in need at no cost. of Notre Dame in sculpture. Hansen is nationally known for his ceramic work “If you’re coming out of a homeless situation to and has been given special recognition nothing, you haven’t left a homeless situation,” as a research professor at Andrews. Sanders said. “Every family deserves a dignified, Stay tuned for more information about comforting home.” Before and after photos of a room serviced by Focus on Home serves an average of one Focus on Home and UCO Students during the Hansen in the next issue of ARTSpeak. Big Event. family per week; however, with the help of 50 CFAD Departments: UCO students, the group was able to help five Scott Booker, CEO and executive director families in one single day. and make interpersonal connections. of ACM@UCO, was selected to serve as The collaboration was part of UCO’s 15th annual “It’s great to do something to benefit an a member of the Recording Academy’s Big Event, a volunteer day in which 700-1,000 alumni’s organization as well as the community, 2017 Grammy Hall of Fame committee. UCO students ventured out into the community and it also demonstrates how the exposure to Invited by Neil Portnow, president of to help local individuals and agencies with civic engagement resonates in our students the National Academy of Recording Arts a variety of volunteer projects. The event is a even after graduation,” said Patrick Tadlock, and Sciences, this is the second year way of saying thank you to the community for director of UCO’s Volunteer and Service Learning Booker has been invited to serve on the supporting UCO, but it also gives students an Center and advisor to the group of students who committee. Booker has been identified opportunity to learn the importance of service organize the Big Event. as an “eminent and knowledgeable professional,” qualified to select this year’s inductees based on lasting qualitative and historical significance. The UCO Kaleidoscope Dance *Quote taken from Grammy.org SCENE: SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS LUNCHEON Noteworthy Events: Company Heads to NYC We are thrilled to announce that we’ve The student dance performance ensemble, UCO professional performance in New York – will rescheduled the Mitchell Hall Opening Kaleidoscope Dance Company, will travel to New provide students with an understanding of the for Thursday, August 31. Check your York City, New York, June 24–29 and perform an scope and diversity of the dance community mailboxes soon for more information informal showcase at the Gibney Dance Center in NYC, the knowledge of navigating a large on this free and open-to-the-public on Broadway Avenue. Tickets are $15–$20, and city and hopefully the confidence to pursue celebration. Thank you all so much we encourage alumni and friends in the area to a performance or choreography career,” said for your patience and understanding attend. Michelle Moeller, assistant chair of the UCO during the construction process! Students of Kaleidoscope were chosen to Department of Dance.