Texas Christian University
At Texas Christian University, the College of Fine Arts is a vibrant community where artistic practice, academic inquiry, and creative leadership converge. Rooted in the belief that the arts are essential for learning and living, we challenge students to master their craft, pursue academic excellence, and develop a distinct creative voice within an ever-changing global landscape.
TCU’s College of Fine Arts comprises six academic units: the School of Art, School for Classical & Contemporary Dance, Department of Design, Department of Fashion Merchandising, School of Music and Department of Theatre. As part of a comprehensive research university, students receive rigorous professional training and individualized mentorship while benefiting from the breadth of a liberal arts education. This dual foundation prepares technically accomplished graduates who can situate their artistic practice within broader intellectual contexts with both the craft and leadership skills to sustain successful careers in the arts.
State-of-the-art facilities, including concert and recital halls, labs, theaters, galleries and studios, support student and faculty creative exploration, collaboration, and professional preparation. Located within the vibrant cultural communities of Fort Worth and Dallas, TCU offers students access to renowned arts organizations, working artists, and cultural institutions. At the heart of our mission, these connections transcend the confines of campus, enabling students to engage directly with professional companies, working artists, and cultural institutions of international repute.
Through accomplished faculty-practitioners, the integration of professional and academic training, and a sustained commitment to interdisciplinary inquiry, TCU’s College of Fine Arts equips students to contribute meaningfully to the artistic, cultural, and educational communities they will serve. The college’s work reflects TCU’s broader institutional purpose to prepare individuals to think critically, engage empathetically, and shape the evolving professional landscape as the next generation of creative leaders in the arts.
a2ru Campus Contacts
Amy Hardison Tully is the Teresa Ann Carter King Dean of the College of Fine Arts at Texas Christian University. Tully graduated with a Doctor of Musical Arts in flute performance in 2007.
Amy Hardison Tully’s Advice: “Learn from every musical experience, be entrepreneurial, trust your creative instincts and don’t give up. A strong performing arts education combined with a strong liberal arts education equals endless possibilities for creative contributions.”
James A. Enos is an interdisciplinary artist and educator whose work centers on public-facing scholarship at the intersection of community, culture, and the built environment. Before joining TCU, he was Associate Professor of Interdisciplinary Art and Design at the University of Georgia, where he served for eight years as Chair of Studio Art Core. As Professor and Director of the School of Art, James is excited and humbled to work with TCU’s faculty and students to further enhance the reach and impact of their work.
James’s practice includes walking, fieldwork, and collaborative projects that examine how people experience and shape the places they inhabit. His work focuses on infrastructure, energy, and ports, as well as the multiple social, cultural, and environmental meanings they hold. At TCU, he teaches drawing and sculpture and continues to pursue his research through exhibitions, public projects, and international collaborations.
His work has been presented nationally and internationally, including at the 13th Venice Biennale of Architecture, Creative Time’s Living as Form, Pacific Standard Time’s LA/LA at the Getty Museum, and Harvard Graduate School of Design, as well as venues in Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, China, Finland, Germany, and the Netherlands. He is the recipient of the 2013 San Diego Art Prize and has served as an artist, director, and/or founder of public projects including The Periscope Project, Drone Readymade, Port Journeys, and Port Futures / Social Logistics. His work has been featured in WIRED Design, Design Boom, Hyperallergic, and Planning Perspectives, among others.
Sarah Newton is Interim Director and an Instructor II in Dance at Texas Christian University. She completed the Master of Fine Arts in Dance at Texas Woman’s University and is a Summa Cum Laude graduate of Sam Houston State University, where she earned the BFA in Dance. She has danced with Out On a Limb Dance Company, wild goose chase, Kista Tucker Dance Company, and Contemporary Dance/Fort Worth. Sarah has enjoyed teaching master classes and creating new choreographic works at numerous schools and festivals. Sarah is deeply invested in the study of human anatomy as it relates to enhancing movement and has completed the Functional Awareness Move Educator certification. Contributing to her body of knowledge is her comprehensive mat and equipment Pilates certificate through Balanced Body University and her certification by the National Pilates Certification Program through Pilates Method Alliance.
David Elizalde is the esteemed Chair of the Department of Design and a dedicated TCU alum. Elizalde’s journey at TCU began with a Graphic Design BFA in 2003, followed by an M.B.A. from the Neeley School of Business in 2007, solidifying his deep connection to the university. Since 2016, he has served as a dedicated faculty member, sharing his expertise and passion with students.
With 16 years of experience in the creative industry, Elizalde has served as a designer and creative director for national and international clients. His work has been recognized with awards at the local, national and international levels, a testament to his talent and commitment to excellence Elizalde is driven by a passion for education and ensuring that students receive a robust foundation in design, preparing them for successful careers in the field. His approach is not just about teaching skills but fostering a deep understanding of design principles and their real-world application.
Beyond his professional endeavors, Elizalde’s steadfast commitment to family, friends and faith grounds him in every facet of his life. Under his leadership, the Department of Design at TCU thrives as a nurturing environment where creativity flourishes, and students are empowered to reach their fullest potential.
Dr. Marc Reed is the Director of the School of Music at Texas Christian University. Reed previously served as the Director of the School of Music and the School of Dance, Theatre, and Arts Administration at The University of Akron in Akron, Ohio. He was also on the faculty at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado, where he served as Music Department Chair. His past faculty roles include positions at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Waldorf College, Drake University, and the University of North Texas.
An active member of the International Trumpet Guild, he is the current Director of the ITG Conference Competitions and recently served two elected terms as ITG Secretary. He is the editor of the ITG Journal’s Trumpet in the Wind Band column and previously chaired ITG’s Youth Competitions and Recording Committee. He’s an Artist Faculty Member of the National Trumpet Competition and an Artist/Clinician for the Bach Trumpet Division of the Conn-Selmer Corporation. He has presented clinics at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, Minnesota, New Mexico, Kansas, Colorado, Florida, Texas, and Alabama Music Educators Association Conferences, the Midwest Trumpet Festival, the University of Kentucky Summer Trumpet Institute, the International Trumpet Guild Conference, and the Iowa Bandmasters Association Conference.
His first solo trumpet album, Gone, But Not Forgotten, is available on Mark Records. He is the former Principal Trumpet of the San Juan Symphony Orchestra, Third Trumpet of the Music in the Mountains Festival Orchestra, Solo Cornet in the Great Western Rocky Mountain Brass Band, and a member of the University of North Texas Wind Symphony. He can be heard on recordings on the DJ Music, Mark, Klavier, and GIA Windworks labels, including the popular Teaching Music Through Performance in Band series with the UNT Wind Symphony.
Reed holds Doctor of Musical Arts and Master of Music degrees in Trumpet Performance from the University of North Texas, and bachelor’s degrees in Music Education and Trumpet Performance, with a Jazz Emphasis, from Drake University. He studied trumpet with Keith Johnson, John Holt, Richard Giangiulio, and Andrew Classen; and wind conducting with Eugene Corporon, Dennis Fisher, and Sue Samuels.
Beki Baker joins TCU as Chair of Theatre following more than 22 years of experience in higher education and professional theatre. As Chair, she provides leadership for the department’s academic programs and supports the artistic excellence and continued growth of its production season.
In addition to her academic leadership, Beki maintains an active career as a professional director. Her directing credits at Nashville Repertory Theatre include 9 to 5 the Musical, A Christmas Carol, and BloodSuckingLeech. She also directed The Revolutionists for the RepALOUD series, as well as Together We Are Making a Poem in Honor of Life, Showing, Pattern Seeking Animals, The Very Last Wishes of Grandpa Joe, The Second Avenue Subway, and BloodSuckingLeech for the Ingram New Works Festival.
Beki’s other directing credits include Steel Magnolias and Driving Miss Daisy at Studio Tenn Theatre Company; Julius Caesar, Shakespeare’s Case, and The Merry Wives of Windsor at the Nashville Shakespeare Festival; Man & Superman and The Crucible with Blackbird Theater Company. She directed Broadway star Eden Espinosa in a staged concert of Tarzan for Disney Theatricals and the National Association for Music Education, as well as Tony Award nominee Elizabeth A. Davis in Tomorrow at Tablerock Repertory Theatre. She is an associate member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society.
Prior to joining TCU, Beki served for 12 years as Chair of Theatre at Lipscomb University. During her tenure, she led the department through accreditation by the National Association of Schools of Theatre. She also helped establish the Nashville High School Musical Theatre Awards in partnership with the Tennessee Performing Arts Center, a program that connects participating students to the Jimmy Awards in New York City.