News

Alumni Spotlight: Caroline Kneese

Alumni Art Art alum Caroline Kneese (B.F.A. ’02) developed a love for painting during her Meadows experience that eventually led her to opening and operating her very own art gallery.

September 09, 2024

Meadows has 17 new faculty members joining for the 2024-25 academic year.

Meadows Welcomes 12 Full-Time, 5 Visiting New Faculty Members for 2024-25

Faculty Advertising Art Dance Film & Media Arts Journalism Music Theatre Join us in welcoming 17 new faculty members to Meadows, in divisions ranging from art and advertising to dance and theatre, and learn more about these new members of our community.

September 06, 2024

SMU Professor Megan Heber Blends Business and the Arts to Revolutionize Nonprofit Management

Arts and Nonprofit Leadership Arts Management and Arts Entrepreneurship The M.A. in Arts and Nonprofit Leadership Program Director and Professor of Practice reveals how her love for arts management and nonprofit work has led to opportunities to make profound impacts in the community.

September 06, 2024

CCPA Major Maria Murad Begins Coveted Internship at Fisher Investments

Students Corporate Communication and Public Affairs Creative Computation Murad applied and was offered the internship last spring after a thorough vetting process.

September 05, 2024

Alumni Spotlight: Scott Harrison

Alumni Music Music alum Scott Harrison (M.M. '04) details how his Meadows experience has informed his work at the Cleveland Institute of Music and beyond.

September 03, 2024

Meadows Student Reflects on Transformative Summer Abroad in London

Summer Corporate Communication and Public Affairs Dance Chloe Young is a Meadows senior double majoring in Dance Performance and Corporate Communication and Public Affairs. She shares highlights of her exciting and enriching time learning and interning in London over the summer.

September 03, 2024

Alumni Spotlight: Kayla Griffis

Alumni Advertising Advertising alum Kayla Griffis (B.A. ’20, M.A. ’21) shares how she combined the various disciplines she learned at Meadows with her strong knowledge about the advertising industry to become an expert in her field.

August 26, 2024

Lead Animator Career Profile

Campus Creative Technology Lead animators blend artistic vision and technical expertise to bring characters and narratives to life. Discover their vital role in film, gaming, and advertising.

August 22, 2024

Creative Director Career Profile

Campus Creative Technology Creative directors lead visual storytelling, blending artistic vision with strategic acumen to drive brand identity and digital innovation across industries

August 22, 2024

Recent Theatre Alumni Debut Original Plays in Dallas and New York City

Alumni Theatre Three original plays, all created and led by recent Meadows theatre alumni, are being staged this month at NYC’s The Tank theatre and Dallas’ Festival of Independent Theatres.

August 21, 2024

Art alum and former faculty member Jer'Lisa Devezin poses in a studio.

Art Alum and Former Faculty Member Receives Tenure Track at Tulane

Alumni Art Division of Art alum, Meadows 2050 Council member and former assistant professor Jer’Lisa Devezin has been appointed to a tenure track position at Tulane University.

August 20, 2024

What is Art Blocks?

Campus Creative Technology Explore the vibrant world of NFTs and generative art with Art Blocks, a leading platform connecting digital artists and collectors since 2020.

August 06, 2024

Alum-Run Talent Agency Powers Political Ads Ahead of Election Season

Alumni Advertising Journalism Meadows alum Mary Collins (B.F.A. ’79) built her own talent agency from the ground up and now lends talent to a host of opportunities, including political ads.

July 25, 2024

Patricia Manzano Rodríguez Appointed Curator for Meadows Museum

Campus Art Art History The Meadows Museum has announced the appointment of Dr. Patricia Manzano Rodríguez, a Mellon Curatorial Fellow, to the position of curator starting September 1.

July 22, 2024

Division of Art Alum Awarded Prestigious Rome Prize for Art and Design Work

Alumni Art Art alum Amy Revier (B.F.A. ’09) has been awarded the highly competitive Rome Prize for 2024-25 and will soon embark on a full-term fellowship at The American Academy in Rome.

July 16, 2024

Meadows Voice Students Selected as “Rising Star” Performers in Upcoming Basically Beethoven Festival

Students Music Two high-level students in Meadows’ voice program have been selected to perform in the 43rd annual Basically Beethoven Festival on July 21.

July 01, 2024

A Meadows alum helps mentor a current student.

Meadows Mentor Program Provides Students with Professional Advice and Guidance

Alumni Advertising Art Art History Arts Management and Arts Entrepreneurship Corporate Communication and Public Affairs Creative Computation Dance Film & Media Arts Journalism Music Theatre The new mentorship program created by the Office of Alumni and Career Success pairs current students with alumni and other volunteers who are willing to share career advice.

May 22, 2024

Advertising students listen to founder of a boutique creative agency speak on the industry

Advertising Students Gain Insider Industry Glimpse with NYC-Based Alumni on Annual Trip

Alumni Advertising Students in the Temerlin Advertising Institute embarked to NYC for their annual trip, where they got to go behind-the-scenes with several alumni working in advertising and creative industries.

May 16, 2024

Dance alum and new faculty member Parisa Khobdeh photographed by Matthew Karas for Dance Magazine.

Renowned Modern Dancer and Meadows Alum Joins Division of Dance Faculty

Faculty Dance Parisa Khobdeh, professional dancer and alum of Meadows dance program, will return to the school as a faculty member this fall.

May 09, 2024

Student Podcast Reflects on Graduation and Memorable Courses

Students Music On their Chronically On Campus podcast, students Will Emmert and Catherine Ramsey reflect on graduation and memorable Meadows courses.

May 09, 2024

Headshots of SMU DataArts Director Zannie Voss and Research Director Jen Benoit-Bryan

SMU DataArts Names Jen Benoit-Bryan as Incoming Director; Zannie Voss to Retire

Faculty Arts Management and Arts Entrepreneurship Zannie Voss, Director of SMU DataArts and professor of Arts Management and Arts Entrepreneurship, is retiring on August 31, 2024; her role at SMU DataArts will be taken over by current Research Director Jen Benoit-Bryan.

May 07, 2024

Alumni Spotlight: Brian Baumgartner

Alumni Theatre Theatre alum and 2024 commencement speaker Brian Baumgartner (B.F.A. '95) honed his skills as a stage actor at Meadows before taking on the film and television industry, which included his role on the hit sitcom "The Office."

May 06, 2024

Student journalists work on the set of SMU-TV's Hilltop Now news program.

Student Journalists Earn Numerous Awards in Local, Regional and National Competitions

Students Journalism Student journalists across all three student-run media groups in the Division of Journalism – SMU Daily Campus, SMU Look, and SMU-TV – have received awards for their work during the 2023-24 academic year.

May 01, 2024

Alumni Spotlight: Elizabeth Anne Martin

Alumni Film & Media Arts Film & Media Arts alum Elizabeth Anne Martin (B.A. '13) has become a successful artist in addition to her career in the film industry, both disciplines she studied during her time at Meadows.

April 29, 2024

Fashion Media student Tyler Martin assists on the set of a editorial fashion feature shoot.

Fashion Media’s Styling Course Provides Industry Experience for Students

Campus Journalism Students enrolled in the Styling & Visual Culture fashion media class learn about the five primary areas of styling and how history and culture both play a part in this multifaceted art form.

April 26, 2024

Alumni Spotlight: Kelly Lavin

Alumni Corporate Communication and Public Affairs CCPA alum Kelly Lavin (B.A. '10) studied many facets of communications during her time in the program, but ultimately narrowed down her professional focus to excel in one area: public relations.

April 22, 2024

Guggenheim Fellow Professor Xi Wang teaches a music composition class at Meadows.

Professor Xi Wang Awarded Prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship

Faculty Music Music composition and theory professor Xi Wang has been awarded the 2024 Guggenheim Fellowship for her exceptional creativity and contribution to the arts.

April 19, 2024

Students gather in Meadows new electronic recording studio for a film and game scoring class.

Division of Music Introduces New Degree Track in Film and Game Scoring

Campus Music A new Bachelor of Music degree track focusing on film and game scoring will be available to Meadows students starting in the fall of 2024.

April 18, 2024

Alumni Spotlight: Adam Salas

Alumni Music Music alum Adam Salas (M.M. '18) shares his passion for piano with students of his own now as both a private piano studio owner and professor of piano at SMU and TWU.

April 15, 2024

Two Meadows students smile and pose with Mustang signs at an SMU event.

National Student Employment Week: Celebrating Meadows’ Student Workers

Students Dance Music Theatre In honor of National Student Employment Week, we are highlighting the various groups of student workers at SMU Meadows, from ticketing to recruitment, who help keep operations running smoothly for our school.

April 12, 2024

Alumni Spotlight: Gina Farmer

Alumni Advertising Advertising alum Gina Farmer (B.A. '01) used the knowledge gained through her Meadows experience to catapult herself into the world of entrepreneurship in a variety of industries.

April 08, 2024

A brightly colored anti-vaping PSA and creative pet odor eliminator ad won Silver Awards at the GRAPHIS International New Talent Annual.

Advertising Students Amass Over 85 Awards This Spring (and Counting!)

Students Advertising Students in Meadows' Temerlin Institute of Advertising have earned a combined 88 awards in advertising competitions so far this year, with more to come as the semester continues.

April 01, 2024

Alumni Spotlight: Jamal Story

Alumni Dance Journalism Dance and journalism alum Jamal Story (B.F.A., B.A. ’99) is a successful dancer and choreographer with concert tours and Broadway shows under his belt, as well as two published novels.

April 01, 2024

Meadows students perform in an entirely student-led production for the SMU Student Theatre group.

SMU Student Theatre Group Promotes Cross-Collaboration for Arts Majors

Students Dance Music Theatre SMU Student Theatre (SMUST) produces student-led productions that allow for interdisciplinary work between Meadows students in a variety of majors.

March 27, 2024

Alumni Spotlight: Emely Villeda-Principe

Alumni Creative Computation Creative Computation alum Emely Villeda-Principe (B.A. '17) fostered her love for the arts with her pursuit of engineering during her time at Meadows.

March 25, 2024

A photographic component from Jenna Davis' project, "Fabric," featuring a performer stretching a shirt over her face.

Meadows Students Pursue Research Projects with Engaged Learning Fellowship Grants

Students Corporate Communication and Public Affairs Dance Music Discover what meaningful research projects Meadows students across four different majors are pursuing with their Engaged Learning grants.

March 22, 2024

Alumni Spotlight: Charles Beavers

Alumni Arts Management and Arts Entrepreneurship Arts Management & Arts Entrepreneurship alum Charles Beavers (M.M.I.A.M. '17) combines his love for theater with his arts management knowledge to serve as the Major Gifts Officer of Texas Ballet Theater.

March 18, 2024

Meadows is partnering with DCII to host a weeklong residency with Time Lapse Dance that highlights their Big Challenge Series theme of "Climate Resilience."

Meadows Partners with Dedman College Interdisciplinary Institute for Big Challenge Series

Students Dance The Division of Dance and Dedman College Interdisciplinary Institute will collaborate to host a weeklong dance company residency focusing on climate change engagement for DCII’s Big Challenge Series.

March 15, 2024

Alumni Spotlight: Saniha Aziz

Alumni Journalism Journalism alum Saniha Aziz (B.A. '19) shares how the hands-on, experiential learning in her program gave her the tools to succeed in the professional world.

March 04, 2024

Alumni Spotlight: Lee Helms

Alumni Theatre Theatre alum Lee Helms (B.F.A. ’08) leverages his understanding of the performing arts industry and business savvy to breathe new life into the opera-going experience.

February 26, 2024

2024-SMU-Meadows-Graphic-FacultySpotlight-Jeff2

Professor Jeff Cavitt Showcases the Importance of 3D Modeling & Animation Across Mediums

Faculty Creative Technology Explore 3D modeling, animation and creative tech insights with Jeff Cavitt, professor in the M.A. in Creative Technology program.

February 20, 2024

Blockchain: The Future of Digital Art and Design

Campus Creative Technology Blockchain is changing the landscape of digital media ownership. Learn what blockchain is and its role in the future of digital art and design.

February 19, 2024

Alumni Spotlight: Nicole Kiser

Alumni Corporate Communication and Public Affairs CCPA alum Nicole Kiser (B.A. ’20) opens up about achieving her dream of working in publishing and her role as the Managing Editorial Assistant at Penguin Random House.

February 19, 2024

The Police's Stewart Copeland is the 2024 Meadows Award recipient.

SMU Meadows Honors Musician and Composer Stewart Copeland with Meadows Award

Campus Music As the 2024 Meadows Award recipient, Copeland will perform with Meadows Symphony Orchestra for the 31st annual benefit concert Meadows at the Meyerson.

February 15, 2024

The producers and director for the upcoming Summer Film Production project pose for a photo in the Owen Arts Center.

Film Students Offer an Inside Look at Summer Film Production Project

Students Film & Media Arts The director and producers of the 2023-2025 cycle of the Summer Film Production project share what is going on behind-the-scenes of their movie.

February 13, 2024

2024-SMU-Meadows-Graphic-FacultySpotlight-David-Gail-Smith

Professor David Smith Connects His Past and Present for the Creative Coding for App Development Course

Faculty Creative Technology SMU Professor David Smith is helping creative coders develop the skills and knowledge they need for app development.

February 12, 2024

Alumni Spotlight: James Ryan Jillson

Alumni Arts Management and Arts Entrepreneurship Music Music and arts management alum James Ryan Jillson (B.A. ’13, M.A. ’15) leverages his knowledge of music with his MA/MBA degree skills as the Director of Analytics at the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.

February 12, 2024

Alumni Spotlight: Tania Glick

Alumni MADI alum Tania Glick (M.A. '19) shares how the skills she learned in the program fit into her role on the Innovation Team at Southwest Airlines.

February 05, 2024

Alumni Spotlight: Jordan Chlapecka

Alumni Advertising Advertising alum Jordan Chlapecka (B.A. '11) shares how Meadows' creative community influenced both his career decisions and artistic trajectory.

January 29, 2024

Burke Jam Helping Foster the Growth of Creative Technology

Faculty Creative Technology SMU M.A. in Creative Technology visiting professor Burke Jam leverages experience and expertise to foster growth and understanding for students in his Interactive and Experiential Design course.

January 26, 2024

Melanie Clemmons is Paving the Way for Creative Technology Professionals

Faculty Creative Technology SMU associate professor Melanie Clemmons fuses her artistic background with digital tech to empower students in her Mobile Computing & Augmented Reality course.

January 26, 2024

CCPA students present their final capstone project to clients at the end of the 2023 spring semester.

Divisions Discuss Exciting Happenings on the Horizon This Semester and Beyond

Staff Advertising Corporate Communication and Public Affairs 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.

January 23, 2024

Alumni Spotlight: Elise Huff

Alumni Art History Art history alum Elise Huff (B.A. '20) explains how an elective art history class at Meadows ignited her passion for the arts and changed the trajectory of her career.

January 22, 2024

Meadows theatre students perform in one of the many stage productions put on each school year.

Meadows Students Reflect on Their Goals and Aspirations for Spring 2024

Students Journalism Music Theatre Students are focusing on pursuing personal and academic goals, as well as self-care, during the new year.

January 21, 2024

Alum Ross Rayburn (B.A. '93) is the Lead Instructor for Yoga and Meditation at Peloton.

Alumni Spotlight: Ross Rayburn

Alumni Journalism Journalism alum Ross Rayburn (B.A. '93) shares how Meadows impacted his career path as both an author and fitness instructor of yoga and meditation.

January 16, 2024

What is Creative Coding?

Campus Creative Technology Discover the world of creative coding, where programming meets art to craft visually stunning and seamless digital interactions.

January 05, 2024

Meadows alumni throw their caps into the air at graduation.

Once a Mustang: Alumni Return to Meadows as Faculty and Staff Members

Faculty Dance Journalism Music More than 20 Meadows alumni are currently employed in the school; hear about what drew them back to Meadows and their experience as an alum-turned-faculty member.

December 21, 2023

Five Student Organizations that Build Community and Creativity

Students Corporate Communication and Public Affairs Journalism Theatre From a theatre group to a public relations society, Meadows student organizations offer creative opportunities, networking and a sense of community.

December 19, 2023

Members of the Meadows 2050 Council gather for a meeting.

Meadows 2050 Council Advises School and Current Students on Strategy to Foster Success

Alumni Advertising Art Art History Arts Management and Arts Entrepreneurship Corporate Communication and Public Affairs Creative Computation Creative Technology Dance Film & Media Arts Journalism Music Theatre The alumni advisory group strengthens the Meadows community through mentoring, career guidance and strategic planning for the future of the school and its students.

December 18, 2023

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