TWU Launches School of the Arts

8/13/02

DENTON — Texas Woman's University's arts programs will become more seamless and provide students with unique artistic and scholarly opportunities under the new School of the Arts. Visual arts, dance, drama and music programs will be combined Aug. 26, the start of the fall 2002 semester, under the School of the Arts.

"The School of the Arts concept is something that's been considered for the past five or six years," said Dr. Richard Rodean, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, under which the school falls. "This is the right time to make it happen."

The four programs have worked together in the past but in the School of the Arts, Rodean and other university officials anticipate greater cross-discipline collaborations. "What we've done in the past is just the tip of the iceberg," said Dr. John Weinkein, director of the new School of the Arts and chair of the department of visual arts.

"The different disciplines have worked together on things like the homage to Sept. 11 that included sculpture and dance," Weinkein said. "The School of the Arts will allow for more collaborations and allow us to explore combined programs in the future."

"A School of the Arts also will create a greater identity for the arts programs at TWU," added Rodean. Approximately 500 students will be brought together under the School of the Arts umbrella.

University officials anticipate that will bring increased visibility to TWU's arts programs, improve student and faculty recruiting and retention, improve external funding opportunities and created some economies by pooling resources.

TWU's Board of Regents recently approved the formation of the School of the Arts.

Dr. Penelope Hanstein, professor of dance, will be chair of the department of dance within the School of the Arts. Dr. James Chenevert, who is coming to TWU from Alverno College in Milwaukee, Wis., will be the chair of the department of music and drama and program director for music. Sharon Benge, associate professor of performing arts, will be program director for drama.

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For Further Information Contact:

Roy Kron
Director of News and Information
Tel: (940) 898-3456
e-mail: rkron@twu.edu