The late Gerald and Carolyn Eberly Blaney spent their lives giving back. Many of their philanthropic endeavors were at West Virginia University.
Across campus, the Blaney namesake is emblazoned on buildings and halls, endowments and scholarships. The College of Creative Arts has received much of the Blaney’s generosity over the years, thanks to couple’s love of the arts.
Assistant Dean of Student Artistic Achievement Mikylah Myers received the Distinguished Service Award from the West Virginia String Teachers Association.
“The award that Mikylah received is given to those that we feel have provided tireless service to the betterment of string education and to the string students in the state of West Virginia,” said WVSTA President Jeannine Sturm. “Mikylah has done so much for the younger students in the K-12 field and for those that are future educators. We are very fortunate to have her in our state and at WVU!”
The West Virginia University College of Creative Arts has selected its annual faculty awards.
Each year, the college awards for Excellence in Research and Creative Activity; Outstanding Teacher; Outstanding Service; and Adjunct Faculty Excellence.
Black Lives Matter. Three simple words that make a poignant statement. A statement that is true and supported in the College of Creative Arts. Three words forming a phrase that reflects the last eight years of our nation’s complex struggle with racism in America. A phrase that starts with the killing of Trayvon Martin, continuing through the killings of Michael Brown and Eric Garner. A phrase that has now reached a new crescendo with the killings of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd. Black Lives Matter.
The arts fill many roles in society. For many the roles that come to mind are to reflect beauty and to provide escape. However, one of the most important roles of the arts is to reflect society and to challenge us to engage in difficult conversations. Throughout history, artists such as Paul Robeson, John Coltrane, Nina Simone, James Baldwin, Toni Morrison, Jacob Lawrence, TJ Anderson and August Wilson have illuminated the conflicts in our society. Their work effectively memorializes the challenges of their times and inspires the difficult conversations that we must engage in as a society. It is because the arts can lead us to engage in these difficult conversations that I believe it important that I add my voice as the Dean of the College of Creative Arts to the voices of President Gee, Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Meshea Poore, chief of University Police W.P. Chedester and Patrice Harris, president of the American Medical Association.
With more than a decade of experience as a secondary music educator, Cheldon Williams has been named the associate director of bands at West Virginia University.
Williams will become the 13th director of the Pride of West Virginia Mountaineer Marching Band, effective August 1. He will follow Stephen Lytle, who resigned from the position on May 1.
To the class of 2020, you really know how to make a memorable exit!
Though we cannot share the celebration of your tremendous achievement in person, I want you to know that we are proud of you. We are proud of how you have developed, grown and inspired us. During your somewhat short time on campus, you have witnessed a seismic change in our culture and our world. Now that you have a head-start on life after WVU, I hope you take a moment to reflect on how you are now ready to be a needed catalyst for change in our society. A catalyst that will make meaningful contributions to your new communities.
West Virginia University College of Creative Arts and its schools have selected outstanding seniors from the May 2020 graduating class.
Each school selects their top senior based on merit. The top outstanding senior for the college is then voted on by administrators.
West Virginia University College of Creative Arts has selected the winners of the College’s annual Faculty/Student Mentored Research Awards.
“With 17 applicants across all the Creative Arts disciplines, our students showcased stunning scholarly and creative research at both the graduate and undergraduate levels,” said Mikylah Myers, assistant dean of student artistic achievement. “This yearly exhibit highlights the behind-the-scenes research mentorship of our world-class faculty, and reinforces the goal of a professional mind-set that we want all of our students to have the moment they set foot in the Canady Creative Arts Center.”
The Art Museum of West Virginia University will soon transition one of its two galleries into a dynamic, rotating installation of objects from its nearly 5000-object permanent collection.
The museum was awarded a $50,000 grant from the Henry Luce Foundation's American Art Program to make the change from its current model, which features temporary and traveling exhibitions in both galleries.
West Virginia native singer-songwriter Bill Withers died Monday, March 30, in Los Angeles from complications related to heart disease.
Known for such songs as “Lean on Me,” “Just the Two of Us,” and “Lovely Day,” Withers was born in Slab Fork, West Virginia on July 4, 1938, and spent much of his young life in Beckley. Withers received an honorary doctorate from West Virginia University in 2017.