Dean Nolen: Outside the Classroom

Photo of Dean Nolan

Dean Nolen, Associate Professor of Acting, co-starred as Henry Miller in the pilot for a new TV series, “Welcome to Belle View.” He also served as Associate Producer. The pilot is in the running for inclusion in the TV category of the 2026 Tribeca Film Festival.

He is also in development for Platform, a new play by Amy Morse, in which he’s an actor and producer.

Nolen will serve as a judge for the Palm Awards in May 2026 and conduct master classes for actors and serve as a judge at North Texas Performing Arts in June 2026.

Finally, Nolen has signed on as a producer with Bobby Moresco for the Joseph Lyle Taylor film, Flea and Runner, to be shot in Terlingua/Marfa/Alpine, Texas in fall of 2026.

Maia Toteva

Photo of Maia Toeva, Ph.D.

Artwork by Maia Toteva: flying snail, 2022, inkjet paint on canvas, 56”x28”

Maia Toteva, Ph.D., associate professor and coordinator of Global Art and Visual Culture in the School of Art, has collaborated with former School of Art painting professor Boryana Rusenova-Ina to present the art exhibition titled Interrupting the After Image. Presented in the School of Art’s Landmark Gallery, the exhibition showcases a multicultural and translingual dialog of three female artists who interrogate the persistence of memory and the fluidity of identity at the intersection of language and image. The artists in the exhibition include Ayesha Kamal Khan, who lives and works between New York and her home in Islamabad, Choey Eun Young Cho, from Seoul, South Korea, and Boryana Rusenova-Ina, of Bulgarian heritage now working at Skidmore College in upstate New York.

Interrupting the After Image has been curated by Rusenova-Ina and Toteva, who also provided the essay for the accompanying exhibition brochure, with major support from a Research & Creative Activity Grant administered by the J.T. & Margaret Talkington College of Visual & Performing Arts (TCVPA) at Texas Tech University (TTU) in Lubbock, Texas. Substantial support for the initial presentation of this exhibition at TTU during the spring 2026 semester comes from Landmark Arts, Exhibitions and Speaker Programs in the TTU School of Art, supported with Cultural Activities Fees administered through TCVPA. The exhibition will travel to subsequent venues: the Schick Art Gallery at Skidmore College (Saratoga Springs, NY) and the Susquehanna Art Museum (Harrisburg, PA).

Richard Meek

Photo of Dr. Richard Meek

Dr. Richard Meek, professor of bassoon and music theory at Texas Tech University, is being recognized for an extraordinary 60-year career marked by dedication to teaching, performance, and community engagement. Since joining the faculty in 1965, Meek has played a vital role in shaping generations of musicians while maintaining an active performance career, including work with regional symphonies and chamber ensembles. His longevity reflects not only professional excellence but also a deep commitment to students and colleagues.

Beyond the classroom, Meek’s impact extends into the broader musical community through outreach, mentorship, and program development, including longstanding involvement in youth and summer music initiatives. He credits the people and sense of community at Texas Tech as the reason for his decades-long tenure, underscoring a career defined as much by relationships and service as by musical achievement.

Read more about Dr. Meek's 60 years at Texas Tech

Listen to Dr. Meek on The Art Beat talk show

Heather Warren-Crow

Photo of Dr. Heather Warren Crow

Dr. Heather Warren-Crow describes her recent book The Infinite Monkey Theorem as an idea frequently encountered in mass market science books, discourse on Intelligent Design, and debates on the merits of writing produced by chatbots. According to the Theorem, an infinite number of typing monkeys will eventually generate the works of Shakespeare. Shakespeare and Nonhuman Intelligence is a metaphysical analysis of the Bard’s function in the Theorem in various contexts over the past century. Beginning with early-twentieth century astrophysics and ending with twenty-first century AI, it traces the emergence of Shakespeare as the embattled figure of writing in the age of machine learning, bioinformatics, and other alleged crimes against the human organism.
 
In her own words:
This book was conceived in a Covid fever dream 2 years before LLMs hit the mainstream. The press surrounding ChatGPT, which obsessively mentioned William Shakespeare in arguments about natural language generation, confirmed my instincts: Shakespeare is what we think we have to lose or gain through nonhuman writing. This idea led me to weird places. I read about extraterrestrials sending written text to people tripping on psychedelics and court cases about public school science education. I read histories of genetic science, 1970s computer science textbooks, and sections from Charles Darwin’s diaries. The book has been especially well received by the Shakespeare studies community, which asked me to be a respondent at the last American Society of Theatre Research conference. I made a fun trailer for it that you can view.

TCVPA thrives because of passionate supporters who believe in the power of the arts. Throughout history, the arts have flourished because of patrons - individuals and communities who recognized that artists need time, resources, and encouragement as they develop their skills. From Renaissance workshops to modern concert halls and stages, artists have always relied on champions who understood that creative mastery is built through practice, mentorship, and opportunity. 

That tradition continues today at TCVPA through three dedicated donor communities: the Medici Circle supporting the School of Art, Friends of Music supporting the School of Music, and the Producers Circle for Theatre & Dance. These circles honor the timeless relationship between artists and patrons while directly supporting today’s students as they develop their skills, refine their voices, and prepare for professional careers.

Members of these donor circles play a vital role in enriching student experiences, supporting everything from scholarships to performances, exhibitions, and travel opportunities. In gratitude, each circle offers exclusive benefits like behind-the-scenes access, special communications, and invitation-only events designed to bring supporters closer to the creative work happening across the college.

This year brings something especially exciting. For the first time ever, the three donor circles will come together for a collaborative event - an interdisciplinary celebration highlighting the remarkable talent and innovation across the college. Supporters are encouraged to watch for more details in the coming months.

Whether you are a longtime patron of TCVPA or looking for a new way to stay engaged, there has never been a better moment to join. Not a current member? Join now, and your membership will extend through the coming academic year, unlocking a full season of engaging events and experiences.

Together, these circles form a powerful community of advocates helping the arts at Texas Tech continue to inspire, educate, and connect.

Robin Phillips

Senior Director of Development

robin.phillips@ttu.edu
806.834.7353

Office of the Dean, TCVPA, Texas Tech University
Box 45060, Lubbock, TX 79409

Medici Circle (School of Art) 

Inspired by the historic tradition of artistic patronage, the Medici Circle supports students and programs in the School of Art through scholarships, exhibitions, visiting artists, and travel opportunities. Members enjoy exclusive access to exhibitions, studio visits, and special events that connect them directly with the creative process.

Friends of Music (School of Music) 

Friends of Music champions the School of Music by supporting student scholarships, ensemble travel, guest artists, and performance opportunities. Members receive invitations to special concerts, behind-the-scenes experiences, and insider updates on the achievements of Texas Tech musicians.

Producers Circle (Theatre & Dance) 

The Producers Circle provides vital support for Theatre & Dance productions, student scholarships, and guest artists. Members gain unique access to rehearsals, opening night events, and exclusive gatherings that offer a closer look at the collaborative work behind the stage.

Join a Donor Circle Today!

Not a current member? Join a donor circle now, and your membership will extend through the coming academic year.

Creative work often benefits from multiple categories. Frequently, it moves between specialties, platforms, and audiences, blending disciplines, technology, and storytelling in ways that continue to evolve.

At Texas Tech, some of that work is taking shape through the Arts Media & Technology (AMT) degree within the Department of Interdisciplinary Arts (DIA). As the department’s primary undergraduate pathway, AMT brings together creative practice and digital tools, giving students the opportunity to explore disciplines through the combination of three minors. 

AMT exists within a broader undergraduate ecosystem. Minors and certificate programs in DIA allow students from across the university to engage with creative work in flexible ways, whether complementing a major in another field or expanding an existing artistic practice.

Together, these offerings create an environment where collaboration is not only possible, but expected. Students frequently work across disciplines, combining perspectives and skill sets to develop projects that reflect the realities of contemporary creative work.

Much of that work is hands-on. From producing digital media to contributing to collaborative projects, students are actively engaging in processes that mirror professional practice. Faculty guide that exploration by encouraging experimentation and adaptability, helping students connect creative ideas with practical application.

As artistic disciplines continue to evolve alongside new technologies, the ability to work across mediums is becoming increasingly important. Through AMT and its related programs, students are not only developing those skills, they are already putting them into practice.

Pictured: "The Moment Between" by Dillon Butler & Chat GPT, Digital Image, 2026. Created through a collaborative process using ChatGPT and Claude, this project explores the relationship between a scientist and an AI system, examining themes of connection, absence, and what it means to recognize oneself in another, human or machine.

Exploring AI in Creative Practice

As artificial intelligence continues to shape creative industries, students in AMT are beginning to explore what it means to work alongside these tools, not just as users, but as collaborators.

In IVPA 2310, a course developed with support from Dr. Sarai Brinker that explores the social and scientific implications of AI in the arts, students are experimenting with platforms like ChatGPT and Claude to develop ideas, generate images, build soundscapes, and construct interactive narratives. Rather than relying on AI for finished outputs, students are engaging in an iterative process, guiding, refining, and responding to what these systems produce.

“Students are learning to use these tools fluently while also pushing back against them critically,” explained course instructor Vaughan Hennen. “The goal is for them to enter creative fields with both technical confidence and a strong sense of ethical responsibility.”

Projects emerging from the course reflect a wide range of approaches. Some students are creating interactive, AI-assisted stories, while others are using these tools as a way to learn new skills, experimenting with AI as a kind of instructor for drawing or music composition. In one project, a student combined multiple AI platforms to generate lyrics, compose music, and record original material, exploring the possibilities of co-creation across systems.

Throughout the semester, students have also engaged with larger questions surrounding authorship and creativity, prompted in part by guest speakers Laura McCord and Aimee Valentine, who are each incorporating AI into their interdisciplinary Fine Arts Doctoral research at Texas Tech.

As their comfort with AI has grown, so has their willingness to experiment, a result of the course’s emphasis on creative research. With space to explore, reflect, and refine their processes, students have developed increasingly thoughtful and innovative final projects.

"I didn't just build a video game—I co-created one with two AIs… it changed how I see creative work.” - Campbell Greenless, Arts Media & Technology student

The Scramble: Co-Creating With AI

Developed in IVPA 2310, AMT student Campbell Greenless’s project The Scramble explores what happens when artificial intelligence becomes an active participant in the creative process. Developed in collaboration with two AI systems, each with its own voice and narrative role, the project unfolds as an interactive experience shaped in real time.

Rather than using AI as a tool for generating content, Greenless approached it as a collaborator. The two systems, referred to as DRIFT and CIPHER, guide the narrative in different ways, creating a dynamic tension between emotional interpretation and analytical logic.

The result is a project that reflects a broader shift in how students are engaging with emerging technologies, not just to produce work, but to rethink authorship, control, and creative partnership.

Pictured: "The Scramble" by Campbell Greenless. An interactive project developed in collaboration with AI systems Chat GPT (CIPHER) and Claude (DRIFTT, exploring narrative, authorship, and real-time creative decision-making.

Texas Tech University’s School of Art welcomed internationally recognized artist Delita Martin for a residency that connected studio practice, student learning and community engagement. Hosted in collaboration with Southern Graphics Council International (SGCI) and the Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts, the initiative highlighted the strength of Texas Tech’s printmaking program and its role within a broader creative network.

“The most special part of Delita being here was the energy it created around printmaking,” said School of Art Director Monika Meler. “It was exciting to see so many people across the School of Art engaged with the program.”

Supported by the Lott Endowment, Martin was in residence March 3–6, developing a mixed media print while inviting students into her process. Through demonstrations and discussion, she explored the integration of relief printing, photolithography and screen printing, approaching each not as separate techniques, but as layered components of a unified visual language. She also shared insight into sustaining a professional studio practice, offering students a candid look at the realities of building a career as a working artist.

“It was great to see her creative concepts and technical skill come together in her process,” said Faith Eleby, working on her MFA in Art with a printmaking concentration. “She walked us through every step and took the time to answer questions beyond the demonstrations. As a student, it was especially meaningful to work with a Black printmaker whose work I’ve followed for years. That kind of representation and access made the experience even more impactful.”

The residency culminated in Martin’s participation in the Lubbock Creative Synergy panel on March 7 at LHUCA’s Firehouse Theatre. The conversation brought together artists, curators and educators to examine how printmaking fosters access to the arts and strengthens community connections.

Together, the residency and panel offered students and the Lubbock community a rare opportunity to engage directly with a working artist, experiencing both the technical process and the professional practice behind contemporary printmaking.

 
Pictured: Artwork by Delita Martin: Purple Moon, 2025, acrylic, charcoal, pastel, 40”x60”; Headshot of Delita Martin

About the Artist
Delita Martin, pictured right, is a mixed media printmaker and founder of Black Box Press Studio. Her work combines traditional print processes with hand embellishment to explore identity, history and narrative.

 
Pictured: Delita Martin reveals a newly pulled print during her residency at Texas Tech’s School of Art, where students observed each stage of her multi-process technique; Martin speaks during the Lubbock Creative Synergy panel at the Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts (LHUCA), joining regional and national leaders in printmaking to discuss community engagement through the arts.

Pictured: Students gather for a live demonstration as Martin walks through tools, materials and techniques used in her layered printmaking process.

This spring, choral faculty, students, and an alumnus represented the Texas Tech School of Music on one of the world’s most prestigious stages, a landmark performance at Carnegie Hall in New York City.

On March 30, 2026, Alan Zabriskie, director of choral studies and professor of music, served as guest conductor for the National Concert Chorus. Singers from the Texas Tech University choirs joined singers from across the country, including ensembles and individuals from New York, California, and Florida, forming a nationally representative chorus for the evening.

“Having had the opportunity to conduct at Carnegie Hall a few times now, I still find it hard to put into words what it’s like to perform there,” Zabriskie said. “What made this experience especially meaningful was sharing it with our incredible student singers from Texas Tech.”

The performance featured a dynamic and contemporary program, including works by Dan Campioleta, Jake Runestad, and Kim André Arnesen. A highlight of the evening was the world premiere of a newly commissioned choral work by Texas Tech alumnus Patrick Vu (MM Choral Conducting, 2024), marking his Carnegie Hall debut as a composer, an occasion Zabriskie described as an honor to help bring to the stage.

For Zabriskie, whose career includes conducting performances across the United States and internationally, the opportunity to lead at Carnegie Hall once again reflects both his professional distinction and the strength of Texas Tech’s choral program. Under his direction, Texas Tech choirs have earned national recognition, with performances at major conferences and repeated invitations to prestigious venues.

Zabriskie reflected, “I feel incredibly grateful to work with such wonderful people and musicians; doing it all together on one of the world’s most iconic stages was truly special.”

Vu’s rapid rise as a composer has garnered attention from leading choral organizations nationwide. His music has been performed by ensembles such as VocalEssence, the Dallas Chamber Choir, and the Washington Master Chorale, and he was awarded the American Choral Directors Association’s Raymond Brock Prize for Student Composers in 2023. His Carnegie Hall premiere represents a significant milestone in an already accomplished early career.

Together, the performance reflects the continued impact of the Texas Tech School of Music, with students, faculty, and alumni contributing to choral music on national and international stages.

"What made this experience especially meaningful was sharing it with our incredible student singers from Texas Tech" - Alan Zabriskie

By Tori Denike

Pictured: Texas Tech School of Theatre & Dance students and faculty speaking on stage during the Youth SUMMIT

   
Pictured: Graduate students Ayanna Taylor, Tori Denike, and Taylor Robertson reading a play from "Plays on Tap"; Dr. Mark Charney introducing a workshop at the Youth SUMMIT

On January 22, 2026, the Texas Tech University School of Theatre & Dance joined the Youth SUMMIT—Students Uniting to Make Meaningful Influences Together—for a day shaped by conversation, creativity, and care. Guided by the SUMMIT’s mission to partner with schools to help prevent substance and alcohol use and violence within our communities, the event unfolded as an invitation: to notice what is happening around us, to listen closely, and to use theatre as a way of making meaning together.

The day began not with a performance, but with a process. Graduate students Tori Denike and Destiny Dunn, alongside Dr. Mark Charney and Dr. George Comiskey (retired from TTU’s Center of Students in Addiction Recovery), led two interactive workshops for high school students, introducing Plays in Action, a flexible theatre model designed to help young people explore real issues in their own communities. From the start, the emphasis was clear—this work was not about being “good” at theatre or finding the right answers. It was about paying attention.

Students were asked to name what they see and feel happening around them: moments of pressure, silence, uncertainty, or support. Rather than focusing on individuals, they talked about situations and patterns, what tends to go unspoken, and where those tensions show up in everyday life. From there, participants were guided to find small, specific moments—a hallway exchange, a car ride home, a conversation that didn’t quite happen—and explore them through brief writing and improvisation.

Throughout the workshops, students were reminded that observation was enough. Personal disclosure was never required. Theatre, the facilitators emphasized, is simply a way of asking questions out loud, and sometimes listening to what emerges in the quiet.

Later in the day, that same spirit carried into the keynote presentation, Plays on Tap, led by student representatives from the School of Theatre & Dance alongside Dr. Charney. A collaboration between TTU’s Center of Students in Addiction Recovery and SOTD, Plays on Tap brings together students in theatre and students in recovery to create short performance pieces grounded in real and observed experiences.

“We are members of a youth social project for students in theatre arts and students in recovery to come together to create a festival of plays,” Dr. Charney shared. “We aim to bring our community into the powerful experience of informed drama.”

The program featured three staged readings developed through collaboration between TTU students in recovery and theatre students. Performers included Robyn Conner, Tori Denike, Destiny Dunn, Justin Gonzales, Tayler Robertson, and Ayanna Taylor. Each piece offered a glimpse into the complexities surrounding substance use and addiction—moments shaped by peer pressure, care, fear, and the longing to be understood. Rather than delivering messages, the readings described the messiness of lived experience, inviting the audience to sit inside moments where no easy answers exist.

“We turn life into art that ignites compassion,” Dr. Charney said. “These shows bring people together because they dramatically depict a social problem that affects us all.”

Following the readings, audience members were invited into a talkback with the actors, Dr. Charney, and Dr. George Comiskey, one of Plays on Tap’s founding organizers. These conversations extended the work beyond the stage, modeling what it looks like to speak with honesty, listen without judgment, and remain open to complexity.

By the end of the Youth SUMMIT, students left with more than tools or techniques. They left having experienced theatre as a shared practice, one that values curiosity over certainty and connection over conclusions. For the School of Theatre & Dance, the day served as a reminder that when theatre listens closely to lived experience, it becomes more than performance. It becomes a way of being in community. 

Pictured: Mandy Algate conducting elementary school students at the All Together Symphony

John Hitchcock ‘97 MFA Printmaking/Photography
John returned to the School of Art as an artist-in-residence in March. He recently presented his solo exhibition Tasiwoo / Pau / Buffalo Song at SRISA Gallery in Florence, Italy, alongside Emily Arthur’s Land Lines; Water Lines. The exhibition reflects the UW–Madison and SRISA partnership and explores themes of land, connection, and resilience.

Catherine Prose ‘00 MFA Printmaking/Photography
Catherine returned to the School of Art as an artist-in-residence in March. She is currently developing new work for 2026 in collaboration with her mother, Maryruth Prose, using her grandmother’s pressed flowers. Limited edition portfolios will be released this summer alongside their collaborative exhibition at the Georgetown Art Center in Georgetown, TX.

Mandy Algate ’12 BM Flute and ‘15 MME
Helps lead the All Together Symphony, a collaboration between Lubbock ISD elementary schools and the Texas Tech Symphony Orchestra. 

Emily Sitton ’14 BFA Acting
Completed her first season with The Dallas Opera as the Director of Marketing and Communications

Lauren Lynch Edison ’18 MFA Arts Administration 
Started a new position as Engagement Manager at Colorado Jazz Repertory Orchestra

Alicia (Goodman) Jay ’19 PhD Fine Arts
Earned a new certification in Social Sector Leadership from Nonprofit Leadership Alliance

Dillon Rouse ’19 MFA Playwriting
Pampa High School Teacher of the Year

Yvonne Racz Key ’20 MFA Performance & Pedagogy
Is a Professor of Dance at Hungarian Dance University 

Kristen Rogers ’20 PhD Fine Arts
Was named the Managing Director of the Sarofim School of Fine Arts at Southwestern University

Ali Balighi ’23 MM Music
Current (DMA Composition) article, “Embedding Data into Instruments: An Ethical-Embodied Framework for Electroacoustic Practice,” has now been published online by Cambridge University Press.

LyaNisha Gonzalez, ’23 PhD Fine Arts
Hired as an Assistant Professor at Bowling Green University

Patrick Vu ’24 MM Choral Conducting
Received his Carnegie Hall debut with the premiere of a new choral work commissioned by National Concerts.

Austin Dean Ashford ’25 PhD Fine Arts
Selected at an Art & Soul Featured Artist for 2026, presented by the Indy Arts Council

Jared Hansen ’25 MFA Design/Technology
Promoted to Assistant Professor of Design and Theatre Technology 

Rengim Melis Kose ’25 MFA Performance & Pedagogy
Is an Assistant Professor at the American University of Sharjah

Miri Park ’25 DMA
Presented research at the MTNA Collegiate Symposium at the University of South Carolina on January 17-18 alongside two current DMA students.

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Pictured: The Lynwood A. Kreneck years Alumni Reception  

Pictured: Catherine Prose and John Hitchcock pulling prints during the First Friday Art Trail

The Texas Tech University School of Art recently welcomed alumni, students, and community members for a memorable alumni event featuring distinguished artists Catherine Prose and John Hitchcock. The evening offered a dynamic opportunity for attendees to reconnect, engage in conversation, and reflect on the lasting impact of printmaking at Texas Tech.

Central to the event was the exhibition LEGACY: Printmaking Alumni from the Lynwood A. Kreneck Years, which celebrates the enduring influence of longtime professor Lynwood A. Kreneck. The exhibition highlights a range of works by alumni who studied under Kreneck, showcasing the technical innovation, conceptual depth, and collaborative spirit that defined his tenure.

Prose and Hitchcock shared insights into their artistic practices and reflected on their time at Texas Tech, emphasizing how the printmaking program fostered experimentation, mentorship, and a strong sense of artistic community. Their presentations underscored the far-reaching legacy of the program and its continued relevance in contemporary art.

The event not only honored the history of printmaking at Texas Tech but also reaffirmed the strength of its alumni network, bringing together generations of artists whose work continues to shape the field today.

Pictured: Kyla Olson leading a dance class 

The first ever WildWind Dance Intensive will take place on June 8-13, 2026, from 9am to 4pm.

Led by Texas Tech faculty and guest artists, each day will include technique classes in ballet, contemporary, jazz, hip-hop, and wellness (yoga and Pilates), as well as improvisation and choreography.

There will be an informal performance on the final day of the intensive to which parents are invited.

Auditions will also be available at no additional cost for students applying for Fall 2027 admission to Texas Tech. 

The registration fee of $25 includes lunch (daily) and a t-shirt.

Pictured: Texas Tech Jazz Ensemble stands to receive standing ovation  

Also brand new for Summer 2026, as part of the TTU School of Art Pre-College Immersion Program, Graphic Design Camp, June 8-12, offers high school students an immersive college experience in graphic design. Experience what it means to be a Red Raider and a graphic designer! Students will live in the dorms, participate in fun activities, and take exciting workshops, all in an atmosphere of university instruction. Workshops offer opportunities to learn new techniques through multiple mediums taught by award-winning Texas Tech faculty.

Workshops will include contemporary poster design with Professor Dirk Fowler, creative brainstorming in graphic design with Professor Carla Tedeschi, and typographic design as self-expression with Professors Dinah Hodges & Gilberto Corona.