The academic year is ending, and it feels as though the past nine months have flown by. For many, this time of year offers an opportunity to pause and reflect. As faculty, we encourage our students also to reflect on their successes and areas for continued growth. I strive to practice those same principles. As the American philosopher, psychologist, and educational reformer John Dewey aptly stated, “We do not learn from experience. We learn from reflecting on experience.”
As I evaluate the year, I remember fondly welcoming new students into the program in August; introducing new curriculum such as Dance Conditioning and upper-level hip hop technique; and watching senior-level student choreography featured in the Fall Dance Festival. I recall our collaborative performance with theatre faculty and students in DanceTech: Rites of Spring, attending the regional American College Dance Association conference—where a student’s work was selected for the Gala performance—and launching our program’s first Study Abroad course in Spain over Spring Break with Dr. Ali Duffy. I also take pride in the success of our many recruiting events across campus and throughout Texas, navigating the new course content approval process, reviewing final projects and student showcases, and, finally, saying goodbye to a graduating cohort destined for great accomplishments.
There is so much to celebrate this year, made possible by the hard work and dedication of our faculty and students. I celebrate my dance colleagues for providing holistic and rigorous training while offering incomparable service to the dance program. We are thrilled to welcome a large and talented incoming class of students this fall. We also celebrate our graduating students who have secured contracts with cruise lines, theme parks, schools, and professional dance companies. Additionally, we applaud recent graduates who made television debuts; were hired by professional sports dance teams and companies; accepted positions as high school dance directors and university professors; opened their own dance studios; and completed graduate programs in dance. Watching our students grow and flourish beyond our program—adding their unique artistic voices to the field—is continually inspiring.
Looking ahead, we are excited to host our first-ever WildWind Summer Dance Intensive this June 8–13, 2026. Designed for high school–aged students, the intensive provides participants with a firsthand experience of the TTU Dance Program and the opportunity to learn from our exceptional faculty. Through technique, somatic practice, and choreography classes, students gain valuable insight into what it means to pursue dance as a major or minor at TTU. Thanks to generous support from the REA Charitable Trust, the program requires only a $25 application fee, allowing us to offer this opportunity at minimal cost. Enrollment is filling quickly, and we look forward to welcoming students from across West Texas, the state, and New Mexico. Additional information about our summer programs can be found on our website.
As I hope this column illustrates, reflecting, for me, is not only an act of reviewing the past, but also anticipating the future, one in which our dance faculty will continue to dedicate themselves to discovering the best means of providing unique educational experiences for our students.