News and Events
Bonnie Comley '94 and husband Stewart F. Lane awarded the Paul Newman Award for Services to Children and the Arts
11/19/09
Tony winner Bonnie Comley '94 and her husband, four–time Tony winner Stewart F. Lane, received the Paul Newman Award for Services to Children and the Arts at the 2009 Arts Horizons Annual Gala at the Edison Ballroom in New York City on Monday, November 16.
In 1978, John Devol founded Arts Horizons, a premier nonprofit arts-in-education organization that provides live professional performances and artist-in-residence programs for students and professional development programs for teachers. Arts Horizons has presented programs to more than seven million students, teachers, and community members.
In her acceptance speech, Comley said, "The arts are peoples' connections to their past and to their own humanity. So, for Stew and I to support Arts Horizons, an organization whose mission statement is to foster development of the whole person and to improve education by delivering quality arts programs and activities to schools and communities, is a perfect fit."
Comley is a producer, writer, and performer. She is also vice president of Stellar Productions International, Inc. Recently she has produced American Buffalo (Broadway, 2008), Godspell (Broadway, 2008), Sunday in the Park with George (Broadway, 2008), and The 39 Steps (Broadway, 2008).
Picture above: Emerson College Dean of the School of the Arts Grafton Nunes and Bonnie Comley
Annual scholarship dinner brings scholarship funders and recipients together
11/19/09
President Liebergott hosted the annual scholarship dinner on November 12. The dinner brings scholarship funders and recipients together to share their passion for Emerson.
"Thanks to scholarships provided by alumni, parents, and friends, Emerson students can complete their studies or spend a semester in Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, or The Netherlands," says Robert Ashton vice president for Institutional Advancement. "The scholarships also enable many of them to devote time to community service or participate more fully in campus activities."
Representing the students, Alex Amoling '10 told the story of his college search and decision to apply only to Emerson. A BFA candidate whose family has always encouraged him to pursue his dreams, Amoling plans to increase awareness of Emerson by involving students from his high school alma mater in the production of his thesis project. Amoling thanked Marillyn Zacharis for the John C. Zacharis Memorial Scholarship for both the financial and emotional support it offers.
Other recipients of the Zacharis Memorial and the Zacharis Forensics Scholarships, established in memory of Emerson's late President John Zacharis, attended the dinner as well. Recipients and funders of the Mitzi and Mel Kutchin Scholarship in Communication Disorders, the Barbara Segal Rutberg '68 Scholarship in Creative Writing, the Rob Sands Scholarship, and the Torie Snelgrove Scholarship for Broadcast Journalism were also present.
This year many scholarships were funded by responses to special campaigns, including the Jess Cain Scholarships funded by gifts in memory of the beloved radio personality; the Parents Leadership Council Scholars, whose scholarships were funded by an appeal to parents; and scholarships funded by alumnus and Trustee Kevin Bright in response to a challenge sent out by President Liebergott last spring.
Guests were also treated to a sneak preview of the upcoming Emerson Stage musical production of Illyria.
Ashton notes that the requests for financial assistance increased significantly this year, and Emerson anticipates a continuation of this trend. "Scholarship support enables many students to make the most of their Emerson experience," he says.
Emerson staff and students attend the SOAR and CCOR Conference
11/19/09
A group of Emerson staff and students represented the College at the Society Organized Against Racism (SOAR) and Campus Conversations on Race (CCOR)'s Engaging Differences: Best Practices and Networking Conference on November 7 and 8 at Colby College in Waterville, Maine.
The group included five students, along with Campus Conversations on Race (CCOR) faculty advisor Cathy Edelstein; William (Smitty) Smith, executive director of the Center for Diversity; and Tikesha Morgan, director of Multicultural Student Affairs.
Campus Conversations on Race (CCOR) is a resource in educating students for work and life in a multicultural world. CCOR involves students in discussions on race and ethnicity. Students lead discussions with CCOR co-facilitators, faculty, and staff advisors. The CCOR college network includes: Berklee College of Music, Boston College, Colby College, Emerson College, Florida International University, Harvard University, Lesley University, Massasoit Community College, Pace University, Skidmore College, Springfield College, Tufts University, and Westchester Community College.
The Society Organized Against Racism (SOAR) is a consortium of colleges and universities committed to the belief that a clear historical understanding of racism, diversity, and equity are vital to successfully addressing issues today. SOAR provides professional and student development, as well as opportunity for personal growth through workshops, speakers, institutional consultations, literature reviews, and discussion of research.
Edelstein noted that the Emerson students were leaders at the conference. "Our students were wonderful," she said. "They all spoke out."
"I left [the conference] feeling inspired," Edelstein reflected. "I felt I was surrounded by people who want to make a difference. We all shared our personal mission statements. Those mission statements all involved unity; we all want to bring our campuses together."
Emerson was the only school at the conference that offers noncredit tuition for CCOR participation for three semesters' worth of involvement. Edelstein said that many schools are interested in adopting Emerson's CCOR model. Other schools embed the CCOR program in their curriculum as a course requirement, Edelstein explained. "Many of the programs were more club-like than the Emerson program."
Edelstein spoke to attendees about the importance of having faculty advisors assist the students in these types of programs. Smith and Morgan also spoke at the conference.
Smith founded CCOR in 2002 while he was a Senior Fellow at the Phelps Stokes Fund. He brought the project to Emerson in 2004 as one of the first initiatives of the Center for Diversity in the Communication Industries at Emerson College.
Emerson's Center for Diversity is discussing the option of becoming part of the SOAR organization and hopes to assist with the next SOAR/CCOR conference.
Emerson co-hosts Poetically Speaking event with Teen Voices magazine
11/18/09
Poetically Speaking, an annual event held by Teen Voices magazine, was held in Emerson's Semel Theater at 10 Boylston Place last week. The event showcases the poetic and spoken word skills of teen girls in and around the Boston area.
Hosted in partnership with Emerson College, the event titled "The Value of Voice" drew 19 teens to perform their original poetry to a packed house. The teens' poetry was focused on four topics; overdraft protection, more than face value, making "change," and R.I.C.H. (Respected, Influential, Courageous, and Hopeful). The girls thanked the people who have supported and cared for them; discussed the meaning of real beauty; thought aloud about how to improve our world; and showed how their respect, influence, courage, and hope make them some of the richest girls in the world.
Tekeisha Meade professed these beliefs in her poem Imagine: "My outer beauty doesn't make me successful, get it straight. It's my passion, drive, and determination that structure my fate. My passion for writing is going to open my gate."
"I was incredibly impressed by the skill with which these young women conveyed heartfelt sentiments and emotions through their poetry," said Emerson College president Jacqueline Liebergott. "Teen Voices is a wonderful organization helping to empower teenagers to speak out and create their own voice."
Teen Voices is an intensive journalism mentoring and leadership development program for teen girls in Boston. The mission of Teen Voices is to support and educate teen girls, amplify their voices, and create social change through media.
"Poetically Speaking is our public forum that showcases the power of girls' voices," stated Teen Voices executive director Jenny Amory. "As an organization that amplifies girls' voices worldwide through the only alternative magazine by and for girls in the country, Teen Voices reaches 45,000 print readers and receives 88,000 unique visitors from 177 countries online. We are thrilled to partner with Emerson College—a leader in the fields of communication and media."
Visit www.teenvoices.com for more information on the event or to research volunteer opportunities.
