ABOUT US
College of Arts and Communication
Welcome to the College of Arts and Communication at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. We offer rigorous programs in music, theatre, dance, and the visual arts; internships, pre-professional opportunities in journalism, advertising, and applied communication, and innovative interdisciplinary studies.
Our award-winning faculty introduce students to a balance of theory and practice that prepares graduates for a rapidly changing and increasingly challenging world. As a member of our community, you will have numerous opportunities to learn about, and engage in, artistic and communicative endeavors.
- Our theatre students have been recognized by the American College Theatre Festival for acting, playwriting, technical design, and directing, and our dance program hosts the annual DanceScapes concert which features nationally and internationally known choreographers as artists in residence.
- Our music education students have won the Gaarder Music Student of the Year award more times than any other school in Wisconsin.
- Our art students have exhibited their work throughout the United States and around the world, including Mexico, South Korea, China, and England.
- Work by students in the Department of Communication has appeared on MTV, won numerous awards for journalism excellence at both the State and Midwest Regional level.
- And our media arts and game development majors were the recipients of a prestigious Webby Award as well as the only recipient of the first-ever international UltraHaptics Students Challenge at the EuroHaptics conference in Pisa, Italy.
- Our college is also home to the Young Auditorium, which offers an outstanding venue for performance works from across the nation and around the world.
To learn more, please explore our website, or even better, join us on campus for a tour of our programs and facilities. Feel free to be in touch with the departments directly or contact the dean's office. We look forward to seeing you.
Eileen M. Hayes, Dean
Want to learn more about the College of Arts and Communication or contact our departments? Contact us »
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
Instructional Academic Staff
Excellence Award for Instructional Academic Staff — Ruth Conrad-Proulx has been a professional theatre production manager and technical director producing in theatrical venues and in classrooms teachings for the past 20 years. At the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater Professor Conrad-Proulx oversees the Stage Management program in the Theatre/Dance Department as well as running the Scene Shop, the Electrics Shop and the Sound Shop and a variety of practicum labs. She also teaches Technical Direction, Production Stage Management, Introduction to Technical Theatre, Theatre Appreciation and World of the Arts in addition to mentoring students through design for many areas on stage.
Excellence in Teaching
Roseman Excellence in Teaching Award — Barbara Lynn Grubel is in her 18th year as faculty at UW-Whitewater. She has taught every required course in the Dance Minor, serves as the Dance Program Coordinator, Artistic Director of DanceScapes, was awarded the Chancellor’s Award for creating the “All-Abilities” Dance course and her work has represented UW-Whitewater at the American College Dance Association Regional Conference multiple times. She has an extensive professional career dancing, choreographing and teaching on four continents. She danced in the companies of Ralph Lemon, Douglas Dunn, Dan Wagoner, and David Dorfman and has taught nationally and internationally at many prestigious institutions and festivals. She holds a BFA from UW-Milwaukee and an MFA from Arizona State University.
Outstanding Research
Outstanding Research Award — Erin Bauer (Ph.D., Claremont Graduate University, 2014) is Assistant Professor of Musicology at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Her research examines the construction of sociocultural identity through systems of globalization. In particular, she explores the interconnection between genre and identity as a contemporary implication of global processes. Her current book project addresses the worldwide spread of Texas-Mexican accordion music, called conjunto. Bauer’s writing appears in Rock Music Studies, a number of essay collections, the Latin American Music Review, and Latino Studies.
Instructional Academic Staff
Excellence Award for Instructional Academic Staff — Jodi Galvan is academic staff in the Department of Communication and Continuing Education at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater where she teaches public speaking courses. She earned her M.S. at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and has been a professional educator for 30 years. In 2011 she created and implemented UW-Whitewater's Partners in Education (PIE) dual-credit program. In 2020, she earned UW System's Certificate in Online Learning.
Faculty Service
Faculty Service Award — Professor Cohen teaches Directing for the Stage, Theater History and leads the BSE-Theater Education track. He is a sitting Faculty Senator, elected to multiple terms, and is deeply invested in committee work and the participatory shared governance of our university. In the industry at large, Bruce is a full member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, holds affiliation with Actors Equity Association and is a former State Chair of the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival. Prior to his career as a university professor and administrator, Bruce ran several professional theatre companies including the award-winning Utah Musical Theatre. Bachelor of Fine Arts - Acting, Adelphi University. Master of Fine Arts Degree in Directing for the Stage from The University of Alabama.
Excellence in Advising
Excellence in Advising — Kathy Brady, Department of Communication Chairperson and Professor of Broadcast/Print/Web Journalism.
Ways to give
There are numerous ways that you may make a gift in support of our college — everything from simply writing a check for your annual gift in support of our current needs to a major or planned gift for endowment or a capital project. If you would like more information on any of these types of gifts, feel free to contact us.
Contact
Jordan Stine '10
Director of Philanthropy
stinejp04@uww.edu
Phone: 262-472-5646
Cast your support for tomorrow’s stars
The murmuring audience. Musical instruments being tuned. The dimming of the lights. The rush of excitement as the lights go up, the show begins and you are taken away into a new world!
This transformative experience for audience members is the result of hundreds of hours of work by dozens of UW-Whitewater Theatre and Dance students.
The UW-Whitewater Theatre and Dance Department’s 5-production season offers hands-on learning-by-doing experiences for our students. When putting on a production they learn:
On the stage
- Contemporary and classic acting styles
- Choreography for musical theatre
- Contemporary, tap and jazz dance techniques
Behind the scenes
- Carpentry and project management
- Sewing and costume construction
- Critical thinking in research and script analysis
- Scenic, lighting, sound and costume design
- Science and math skills in all design and build projects
Our students use these skills to launch exciting careers in theatre, film and television, as well as stage and project management, game design, teaching and much more!
As our students prepare to bring back live performances this fall, we ask you to consider making a gift to support the UW-Whitewater Theatre and Dance Department. Your gifts will support the outstanding educational experience our students have come to expect.
Your gifts make a real impact:
- $50 = Scenic paint supplies
- $100 = Sewing supplies
- $250 = Lighting supplies
- $500 = Props for musical
- $1,000 = Costumes for one show
Faculty and staff resources
Helpful faculty and staff resource materials can be found below.
Inclusive Excellence Fellowship Program
FIIRST Application Form - Faculty Initiatives in International/Intercultural Research, Scholarship and Teaching
Professional Development Info & Forms
Professional Enrichment Fund
Budget & Travel Forms
Visiting Artist Forms
Guidelines for Collaboration Fund