Stephen D. Beck
Derryl and Helen Haymon Professor of Music
Assistant Vice President at Office of Research and Economic Development
Louisiana State University
Integrating the Arts at Land Grant Institutions
Jun 9, 2017
This session, “Integrating the Arts at Land Grant Institutions”, explores the landscape of arts and arts-interdisciplinary efforts in research universities across the country. This webinar provides case studies, benefits, and practices for integrating the arts at land grant institutions.
Watch the Webinar
Transcript-for-Integrating-the-Arts-in-Land-Grant-Institutions
Speakers
Stephen David Beck is the Haymon Professor of Composition and Computer Music. He holds a joint appointment at the Center for Computation & Technology, where he previously served as the Area Head for the Cultural Computing focus area and Director of the AVATAR Initiative in Digital Media. He was also Interim Director of the center from 2008-2010.
Dr. Beck received his Ph.D. in music composition and theory from the University of California, Los Angeles, in 1988, and held a Fulbright Fellowship in 1985-86 where he was a researcher at the Institut de Recherche et Coordination Acoustique/Musique (IRCAM) in Paris, France. His current research includes sound diffusion systems, high-performance computing applications in music, and virtual music instruments, a system of interactive computer programs that extend and expand on the performance capabilities of acoustic instruments.
His music has been performed throughout the world, including performances at Weill Recital Hall, Sao Paolo Bienal ’91, SCREAM Radio Series, Concert Band Directors National Association Biennial, North American Saxophone Alliance, New Music America, World Harp Congress, and on the Triforium Series in Los Angeles. His music and writings have been published by G. Shirmer, MIT Press, and the Computer Music Journal, and his music has been recorded on the SEAMUS, EMF and Gothic record lables.
Dr. Beck has also presented lectures and papers on his research in interactive computer music and high-performance computing applications in the arts at recent meetings of the International Computer Music Conference, the Global Grid Forum, the Teaching in Higher Education (THE) Forum, the Society for Electro-Acoustic Music in the United States (SEAMUS), and the Society of Composers, Inc. He currently serves as Music Coordinator and Regional Director (Americas) of the International Computer Music Association. He also served on the board of officers of SEAMUS, most recently as President (1996-2000).
Ruth Waalkes
Associate Provost and Director
Center for the Arts
Virginia Tech
Ruth Waalkes joined Virginia Tech in September 2009 as Executive Director of the Center for the Arts. In January 2013 she was named Associate Provost for the Arts, in addition to serving as the center’s Executive Director. In these roles she is responsible for setting strategic direction and creating programmatic priorities for university level arts initiatives; and for leading the overall development, artistic programming, and operations of the Moss Arts Center.
Previously Ms. Waalkes was Director of Artistic Initiatives for the University of Maryland’s Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center in College Park, MD, which she helped to launch when it opened in 2001. At the Clarice Smith Center she was responsible for all artistic programming encompassing presented performances, residencies, campus and community engagement, and commissioning of new works. During her tenure there she built a significant national profile for the Clarice Smith Center and established the center as a vital part of both the University of Maryland campus community, and the greater arts landscape in the Washington, DC region.
Ms. Waalkes has more than twenty five years’ experience as a leader in arts administration and community-based nonprofit management. Past positions include serving as director of alumni affairs for the A. James Clark School of Engineering at the University of Maryland. Before moving to Maryland she served for four years as executive director of Volunteer Fairfax in Northern Virginia, directing all aspects of this nonprofit service organization and leading it to significant new levels of growth. Prior to that she worked for five years with the Arts Council of Fairfax County as the director of programs, where she managed all performing and visual arts initiatives and served as artistic producer for the council’s annual International Children’s Festival, held at Wolf Trap Farm Park for the Performing Arts.
A native of Holland, Michigan, Ms. Waalkes received her bachelor’s degree in theatre and drama from the University of Michigan. She has participated in numerous community-based volunteer capacities throughout her career, and has served as a grant review panelist for the Virginia Commission for the Arts, Creative Capital Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts. She has been a speaker at national conferences including the Association of Performing Arts Presenters, Chamber Music America, the Alliance for Arts at Research Universities, and the Society of College and University Planners.
Stephen Waller
Dean
College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Steve Waller was named dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources in June 2002 after serving as interim dean for about two years.
Waller, a native Midwesterner, received an associate of science degree in 1967 from Vincennes University, where he studied preforestry; a bachelor of science degree in conservation in 1970 from Purdue University; and a doctorate in range science in 1975 from Texas A&M University.
In 1975-78, Waller was faculty member in the Animal Science department at South Dakota State University. He came to UNL’s Department of Agronomy in 1978. Until 2000, Waller held joint administrative appointments with CASNR and the Agricultural Research Division as well as continuing his affiliation with the agronomy department.
Waller’s research program and teaching responsibilities at UNL emphasized range management and improvement, livestock management on range and pasture, and forage evaluation.
Waller and his wife, Jessie, have two daughters and a son, Christina and her husband, Bill Patterson, who live in McMinnville, Tenn.; Scott Waller, his wife Melanie, who live near Lincoln; Lauren Waller is currently a student at UNL.
Deb Mexicotte, Moderator
Associate Director
ArtsEngine
University of Michigan
Debra Mexicotte received her BFA and MA in Theatre from Case Western Reserve University and the University of Michigan, and worked in local and regional theatre as a designer and painter before starting her career in higher ed. She has spent her career at the University of Michigan working to partner with students and student organizations to help them achieve their highest developmental aspirations. Deb was named Student Organization Adviser of the Year in 1999. Most recently, she spent eight years as the Program Director for Arts at Michigan, a co-curricular arts engagement program at UM. She has also served as President of the Ann Arbor Board of Education and has served the community as a Trustee since 2003.