Letter from the Chancellor
DEAR UNCSA COMMUNITY,
Photo by Wayne Reich
I am proud to share the latest issue of Scene, the annual UNCSA magazine, which features a variety of timely stories about alumni and others making an impact on our university and our world. Foremost among them is Dance alumna Camille A. Brown, the subject of our cover story (Page 10) and 2023 University Commencement speaker, who is in constant demand as a choreographer and director both on- and off-Broadway and in opera, film and television. Her inspiring words at commencement this year made an indelible mark on all who attended, particularly our graduating students who now join our prestigious ranks of alumni. Our alumni have been bringing never-before-seen entertainment to life with global arts and entertainment industry leader TAIT (Page 20), bringing the film industry back to North Carolina (Page 17) and leading an industry transformation toward more focus on artist well-being (Page 14). I was particularly thrilled this year to connect with alumni at a series of events in New York City, something that I plan to continue. Reconnecting with friends and supporters, and seeing firsthand how our alumni are thriving in their careers with the help of their UNCSA network, is among the most fulfilling work I have the privilege of doing. In this issue you will also meet our new (and first) associate vice chancellor and vice provost for equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging, B. Afeni McNeely Cobham (Page 9), and a tenacious student from war-torn Ukraine, Uliana Klimchuk (Page 7). There are far too many alumni accolades to mention in one magazine. Still, one that stands out is Joshua Conyers, whose remarkable story from homelessness to the Metropolitan Opera will inspire you (Page 6). You can read more stories about our talented students and alumni anytime on our website at uncsa.edu/news. This year on campus, our wide-ranging performance season (Page 4) showcased our ever-expanding embrace of interdisciplinary work in the arts, something that is uniquely possible at UNCSA and is a focus of our current strategic plan. The season saw musicians onstage in the extraordinarily acted and designed “Amadeus”; the opera “Orlando Paladino” with an outer space setting, created by Design & Production; and Spring Dance featuring the first performances of Merce Cunningham’s “Travelogue” since 1979, by the schools of Dance, Music and D&P. The past year also brought several milestones to UNCSA. In September, School of Dance Dean Endalyn T. Outlaw discussed the climate of the dance industry and Black role models in ballet with trailblazer Misty Copeland in an event for students, alumni, donors and students from area schools. In February, the William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust pledged $2.28 million to support a significant expansion of the UNCSA Posse Arts Program, which helps recruit, train and support talented students who might be missed through traditional avenues. We are also pleased to have made progress in the comprehensive renovation of our beloved Stevens Center (left), finishing the design and planning phase and setting the stage for the completion of the project. I can’t wait for the day that I can welcome all of you to the reopening of our world-class performing arts venue, updated with today’s technology and other enhancements that will benefit students and patrons alike. I hope you can find time to read this magazine cover to cover. The stories and photos illustrate the excellent job that our faculty and staff are doing to prepare the next generation of artists for successful professional careers and to lead the global arts and entertainment industry of the future. Enjoy!
“ Our wide-ranging performance season showcased our ever-expanding embrace of interdisciplinary work in the arts, something that is uniquely possible at UNCSA.” — Brian Cole, Chancellor
Brian Cole Chancellor 3
