College of Arts and Communication
Communication majors performing on stage

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.

Robert Mertens, Interim Dean

Robert Mertens.
Dean's List »

Want to learn more about the College of Arts and Communication or contact our departments? Contact us »

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

Outstanding Research

“I am honored to receive this year’s Excellence in Research Award. My research has been about creating richly interactive experiences and tools that connect technology with participants. I am driven by creating new and immersive work that both fosters a sense of wonder and collaboration with all involved.

- Nick Hwang

Assistant Professor of MAGD Nick Hwang
Lecturer in Advertising and Communication, Michael Betker

Instructional Academic Staff

“I love teaching advertising and communication classes, and feel proud to be part of a department that always puts the students first. My colleagues and I are intuitively aware when our students need that extra nudge, or a timely word of encouragement in pursuit of their own goals. I feel deeply honored to teach at UW-Whitewater, and to be nominated to represent the College of Arts and Communication.

- Michael Betker

Excellence in Advising

"I am proud to be this year’s recipient of the CoAC Academic Advising Award.  I am humbled, because there are so many great advisors in the Department and in our college.  I strive to be the type of advisor that empowers students, so they can not only choose classes intelligently but also consider various High Impact Practices that will elevate their college experience."

- Tammy French

Tammy French, Lecturer, Basic Course Coordinator, GIA Professor of Record
Associate Professor Amal Ibrahim

Excellence in Graduate Teaching

"I’m deeply pleased and honored to receive the Graduate Teaching Award from the College of Arts and Communication for 2022! I genuinely value my teaching experience in the Communication Graduate Program. Education is an opportunity to inspire, empower, and transform lives. I hope to continue playing a role in impacting and transforming my graduate students’ lives."

- Associate Professor Amal Ibrahim

Associate Professor Eric Appleton

Excellence in Teaching

"I am gratified and humbled to learn that our students and my peers feel that my efforts to be the most effective instructor I can be are bearing fruit. Being recognized with this award means that I have met our College's high expectations, and serves as a reminder to continue working daily toward excellence both for myself and for our students."

- Associate Professor, Eric Appleton

Faculty Service

"Winning this award highlights the achievements that not just myself, but several organizations in our college have accomplished. The Royal Purple is such an important storyteller for our campus community. The Zeta Phi Eta Communication Fraternity is giving much-needed support to our majors as they find their career paths. The Kettle Moraine Press Association creates impactful educational programming for UW-W conferences, camps and retreats here. I'm very proud to be a part of our journalism and communication service work."

- Associate Professor Keith Zukas

Associate Professor Keith Zukas

Ways to give

There are numerous ways that you can make a gift — everything from simply writing a check for your annual gift in support of student scholarships, to a major or planned gift for an endowment or capital project. If you would like more information on any of these types of gifts, feel free to contact us.

"Art allows me to convey messages and ideas that I can't express in words."

Art and Design student Gabrielle Clark is pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Art with an emphasis in Metals and Jewelry and a minor in Japanese. She came to UW-Whitewater because of the well-known BFA program in Art and the diversity of programs available. She is involved on campus beyond the art programs as a member of the Warhawk Marching Band, a Peer Mentor and more. To learn more about Gabrielle, click here.

To make a gift to the Department of Art and Design, click here. Under designation, select other and write in Department of Art and Design.

Communication – whether it is a written report to a colleague, an advertisement for a new car, or a news report on your favorite team – is key. And it is an invaluable and learned skill. In the UW-Whitewater Department of Communication, we know the value of communication and we know how to teach it to our Warhawk students. The proof is in our accomplishments. Click here to learn more about how you can support us today.

"All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them."

Dayne Farris is earning his B.S. in Media Arts and Game Development with an emphasis in Gaming Technology with a minor in Web Development and Administration. His love for computer science and creating video games drew him to the MAGD program. Learn more about Dayne by clicking here.

To make a gift to the MAGD program, click here. Under designation, select other and write in MAGD program.

"I discovered this whole other creative side of myself."

Dayna Hubbartt is pursuing her degree in Instrumental Music Education with an emphasis in flute - she has known since the fifth grade that she wanted to become a music teacher. "I remember sitting in band rehearsal one day and thinking how awesome it was that my teacher got to do that every day and get paid for it. Starting the year after that, I began learning new instruments so I would have an excuse to help out the younger students in the beginner band. Ever since then, my musical journey has taken me further on the path of fulfilling that fifth grader’s dream.”

Dayna currently serves as the President of UW-Whitewater’s chapter of Delta Omicron – Omicron Phi (a co-ed professional music fraternity) and President of UW-Whitewater's chapter of the Collegiate - National Association for Music Educators (C-NAfME). Students like Dayna are the reason we strive to raise funds that go directly towards scholarships. Their ambition, talent and creativity deserves to be celebrated. To learn more about Dayna, click here.

To make a gift to the Music Scholarship Fund today, click here.

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 a multitude of skills they can take forward in a variety of career options. Click here to learn more about supporting our production season.

Faculty and staff resources

Helpful faculty and staff resource materials can be found below.

University of Wisconsin Whitewater