Divisions Discuss Exciting Happenings on the Horizon This Semester and Beyond
As we kick off a new year and spring semester, we asked a few of our Divisions to share some of the opportunities they are most looking forward to in 2024.
At Meadows, students in all programs are hard at work throughout the school year with countless performances, projects, and exhibitions. From annual productions like “The Rep” plays put on by the Division of Theatre to fascinating art galleries and visiting artist lectures organized by the Division of Art, there is no shortage of exciting happenings on our campus.
As we kick off a new year and spring semester, we asked a few of our Divisions to share some of the opportunities they are most looking forward to in 2024. Here’s what they had to say:
Advertising
The Division of Advertising has an abundance of events during the upcoming semester, including their annual Exxon Mobil Lecture series that will take place at Mockingbird Stations’ Angelika Theater on February 22. This year’s keynote speaker is Alvaro Luque, CEO of Avocados from Mexico, who will speak to students and event-goers about brand-building and sustainability.
The Division will also be co-hosting two major American Advertising Federation (AAF) events on campus: AAF's MOSAIC Awards, which honors companies and individuals in the advertising industry who display their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) through creative work, advocacy, and company-wide initiatives, as well as the AAF District 10's National Student Advertising Competition (NSAC), in which Meadows’ advertising students will be competing.
“Our Creative specialization students' work will be entered in various industry-wide creative competitions in the spring, like the NSAC,” says Joe Phua, Endowed Distinguished Chair of Meadows' Temerlin Advertising Institute. “We anticipate another bumper year of award-winning campaigns and work by our talented and amazing students.”
The Temerlin Advertising Institute is also co-sponsoring the Torn Apart: Punk + New Wave Graphics, Fashion & Culture 1976-86 exhibit in the Hawn Gallery of the Hamon Arts Library this semester. The exhibit, which will run from February 8 through May 10, will feature graphics that include designs for the Sex Pistols, the Clash, Buzzcocks, the Cramps, Grace Jones, Talking Heads, Devo and more.
Corporate Communication and Public Affairs (CCPA)
This semester, there is a very special experience on the horizon for CCPA’s Master of International Arts Management (MMIAM) students. After an extensive eleven-month journey traversing four continents, MMIAM students will embark on the final chapter of their global education – a brand new trip to Tuscany!
“During their week-long stay, they will not only experience the locally sourced cuisine and stunning landscapes, but explore sustainability, cultural heritage, and archaeological preservation guided by Professor Greg Warden and his team at the Potentino Exploration Project,” says Megan Heber, professor of practice in the Division of CCPA. “I believe that this once-in-a-lifetime trip truly captures the essence of the MMIAM program — cultural immersion and exclusive hands-on engagement.”
In addition to new experiences for existing programs, CCPA will also be working to launch a new M.A. program in Arts and Nonprofit Leadership. This new degree program, which is set to launch in the spring of 2025, is tailored for those looking to refine their leadership and management skills and are committed to making a positive impact in their organizations and communities. With the program’s curriculum finalized, 2024 will involve bringing on board a team of experts in the field to develop the course content. The Division will be collaborating with a diverse group of exceptional educators, practitioners, and subject matter experts who will infuse each course with real-world relevance and depth.
The Arts and Nonprofit Leadership degree will join CCPA’s offerings alongside the MMIAM and MA/MBA degrees but due to its fully online format, it will allow students from all corners of the globe to enroll. CCPA expects to welcome applications for this new program in late summer or early fall.
Design & Innovation (MADI)
MADI students will be partnering with a well-known Dallas development their Spring Design Studio project this semester: the ATT Discovery District. Though initially opened in 2021, the District is still in a period of growth and its leadership want to learn who is using their spaces, how they’re using them, and how to increase participation by the business, residential, and destination communities that are the focus of downtown – and that’s where MADI comes in.
“Our big guiding question is, ‘How might we improve community participation with the AT&T Discovery District?’” explains Jessica Burnham, MADI Program Director, of the project. “There will be three different student groups within the same class working to understand the local context of the problem at hand, and then moving to prototype potential solutions and work to deliver evidence-based design principles and insights for the client to act on.”
On top of this exciting addition to their client roster, MADI has a new track in Product Design and Innovation as a part of the program. The track is an interdisciplinary environment for learning about design and learning to design and will be offering highly sought-after classes in physical product design. Learn more about the new track here.