Innovating in the Arts and Humanities
The arts and humanities fields are at an inflection point, with universities cutting programs and nonprofits closing at alarming rates. Commercial models in arts and entertainment are also going through historic strikes. How do we ensure that our next generation of artists and scholars are able to conduct their work? This workshop brings together leaders in Arts and Humanities education to examine case studies of innovative methods of equipping students with the tools, resources, and mindsets they need to drive their work forward.
This event is presented in collaboration with Midnight Oil Collective. Midnight Oil Collective empowers creators to become the CEOs of their ventures and drive their work forward using innovative education, technology, and investment models.
About the Speakers
Albert Lee
A classically trained vocalist, Dr. Albert Lee has performed with such celebrated ensembles as the Cincinnati Opera, Opera Las Vegas, Opera Steamboat, Palm Beach Opera, and Philadelphia Orchestra. He appears as a soloist on Sinfonia da Camera’s 2013 recording, on Albany Records, of George Walker’s Lilacs, for voice and orchestra, which won the composer the 1996 Pulitzer Prize, and has recorded with the American Spiritual Ensemble and the Bach Choir of Pittsburgh.
At the Yale School of Music, Lee teaches in the academic-studies area and serves as Director of Equity, Belonging, and Student Life—contributing to the development of the curriculum, creating initiatives for students, faculty, and staff, and overseeing student participation on University committees and in affinity groups and student government.
Brian Evans
Brian J. Evans is a Citizen Artist, defined by the Aspen Institute Arts Program as:
Individuals who reimagine the traditional notions of art-making, and who contribute to society either through the transformative power of their artistic abilities, or through proactive social engagement with the arts in realms including education, community building, diplomacy and healthcare.
Mixing disciplines, mixing professions, and of mixed race, Brian J. Evans unpacks the “moments of suspension” that reside in the spaces between spaces. A former decade-long principal dancer and musical director for Stuart Pimsler Dance & Theater, Evans believes it is the responsibility of the Arts to rediscover existing connections within humanity. He is currently an Assistant Professor of Dance in the theater and Dance Department at Bates College.
Carleen Graham
Carleen Graham is the Inaugural Dean of the Vocal Division at Manhattan School of Music where she oversees classical voice and related studies, opera theatre and choral departments.
Previously, she was Director of HGOco, Houston Grand Opera’s celebrated initiative that connects the company to the community through numerous learning and community programs serving over 80,000 Houstonians annually. During her tenure at HGO she led the commissioning of new works for the Song of Houston and Opera To Go! touring programs as well as innovative programming for Seeking the Human Spirit, a six-year multi-disciplinary initiative that develops partnerships with community and service organizations reflective of the universal themes derived opera.
Abigail Copeland
Abigail Copeland is an Assistant Teaching Professor in the Theater Program of Quinnipiac University, focusing on the area of theater design. At Quinnipiac University she teaches courses in scenic, lighting, and costume design, as well as drawing and painting for the theater, and stage management. These subjects involve high levels of experiential learning for students where they use the theater as a laboratory. Her career as a scenic designer has focused on working with new material and theater companies who serve specific underrepresented communities.
Rosalie Bochansky
Rosalie Bochansky is the Technical Director of Visual and Performing Arts at Quinnipiac University.
Jenny Larios Berlin
Jenny Larios Berlin is an Entrepreneur in Residence at the Martin Trust and a Lecturer at MIT Sloan.
Jenny was the co-founder and Chief Operations Officer for Optimus Ride, an MIT spinout, whose mission was to deploy inside of geofenced communities safe, sustainable, and equitable autonomous mobility solutions through shared and electric vehicle fleets.
Before getting acquired by Magna, a global innovator in mobility technology, Optimus Ride deployed operations in California, Massachusetts, Washington, DC, Virginia, and New York, growing business operations to over 200 employees and fundraising over $75M in venture capital.
Hope Chávez
Hope is a creative producer, facilitator, and non-profit arts leader. Hope is called to center joy and justice to shift systems of power to radically support the underserved culture makers in her community. Her highlight reel includes adventures at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival (Associate Producer) and Long Wharf Theatre (Director of Artistic Planning). Hope serves as Co-President of The New Haven Pride Center's Board and as an advisory council member with Accountability for Abundance (Theatre Communications Group).
Rachel Williams
Rachel Williams joined UNCSA as Dean of the Division of Liberal Arts in July 2022. Williams, an artist, teacher and advocate who has experience in visual arts, feminist theory, women’s issues and community engagement, came to UNCSA after more than two decades at the University of Iowa, where she was professor and department chair of Gender, Women’s and Sexuality Studies and Studio Art.
Williams received a B.F.A. in painting and drawing from East Carolina University, and a Ph.D. in art education and an M.F.A. in studio art from Florida State University. She worked at the University of Iowa from 1999–2022. In addition to her role as professor and department chair, she also served as the university ombudsperson in the office of the president.