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F A C U L T Y N E W S
National Artist Teacher Fellowships
Formerly known as the Surdna Arts Teachers Fellowship, the National Artist Teacher Fellowship program offers grants
to support the artistic revitalization of arts teachers, offering them the opportunity to immerse themselves in their own
creative work, interact with other professional artists, and stay current with new practices. NATF is generously supported
by the Surdna Foundation and is a program of the Center for Arts in Education at Boston Arts Academy.
Design Instructor Donna Shank-Major received a National Artist Teacher Fellowship to study in Florence, Italy. She
will study with master Italian bookbinder Enrico Giannini, spend time exploring Florence’s Oltrarno artisan district and
will visit Bologna’s museums for inspiration and ideas. Upon her return, she will share these methods with students,
colleagues and the community through several workshops and create a new body of work.
Theatre Instructor Teri Parker Lewis also received a National Artist Teacher Fellowship. She will be spending 18 days
on the west coast, from San Francisco to Seattle, studying with actress Diane Venora and director Jeffrey Fracé and
attending performances at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Portland Center Stage and On the Boards. Next fall she
will perform a new solo work that will be the focus of the grant. The Fine Arts Center Theatre also has been awarded a
complementary grant of $1,500 to support her post-fellowship activities in the school.
A L U M N I N E W S
Fine Arts Center graduate Rory Scovel has been cast in a TBS comedy pilot called “Ground Floor,” an office take on
“Romeo and Juliet.” Scovel, who studied film at the FAC, has found much success as an actor and stand-up comedian. He
has previously been featured on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” and Comedy Central and landed roles in several films and TV shows.
Kevin Boseman (Dance) was invited to speak to the seniors in the dance department at California Institute for the
Arts about his dance career with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre and the Martha Graham Dance Company and
his transitions into musical and non-musical theatre.
Samantha Patterson (Dance 2012) performed in the gala performance at the American College Dance Festival in
Tampa, Fla., representing Winthrop University’s Dance Department. Samantha auditioned and was cast in a piece which
was performed at the Medal of Honor ceremony that honors five people in South Carolina who have been recognized
for their contributions to the arts.
Amanda Porter (Dance 2009) graduated Summa Cum Laude from Florida State University with a BFA in dance and a
minor in hospitality management. Highlights during her final year in the acclaimed dance program included performances
in the graduate thesis concert, Rick McCullough’s piece “The Chairman Dances,” and Tim Glenn’s “Chaconne.” Amanda
also performed this spring at the American College Dance Festival Association in Tampa, Fla. After graduation, Amanda
will direct the dance program at Camp Laurel South in Casco, Maine, before moving to New York City in the fall.
Lauren Miller (Dance 2009) is graduating Cum Laude from Columbia College in Columbia, S.C., with a double major
BFA in dance choreography and performance and community arts. She had two pieces of choreography in the Columbia
College Spring Choreographer’s Showcase this spring. Lauren will be attending Texas Women’s University in Denton,
Texas, to pursue a MFA in dance next fall.
Blake Ulmer (Dance 2012) will be attending the University of North Carolina in the contemporary dance program
next fall.
Katie Jenkins Poteet (Dance) is completing her first semester as director of the Furman Dance Company. She
coordinated the Dance Spectacular in March, at which the FDC performed many genres of dance. Local dance studios
performed, as well.
Caitlin Clark (Dance) is going to Benin to be a Peace Corps volunteer in the environmental action sector on June 24.
Kate Furman (Fine Arts Center 2004 and Rhode Island School of Design MFA in Jewelry and Metalsmithing 2012)
has been asked to include work in the collaborative exhibition between alumni from Rhode Island School of Design and
Monash University in Australia. Her jewelry will be traveling to Australia for the exhibition, entitled “Seams,” which is open
July 17 to Aug. 17, 2013. The exhibition features 10 alumni from each program as a representative body of the type of
work made in their advanced degree programs. The exhibition is meant to emphasize and broaden the discourse around
where the boundaries for jewelry lie in 2013.
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