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From the Executive Director

, Filed Under: Council Business, From the Executive Director

New member nominations due Jan. 31

Dear Advisory Council Members,

We are so grateful that year after year, this group continue to identify and recruit talented and passionate new council members to help support the College of Fine Arts and the amazing work being done by our faculty and staff. It is time again to nominate new members for the 2024-2025 academic year.This year’s deadline for nominations is Wednesday, January 31. 

To submit a nomination, you or your nominee can complete this online form. Alternately, feel free to download this pdf and email the completed form to cofadevelopment@austin.utexas.edu.

As always, we ask that when discussing the council with an interested friend, colleague, community member, or family member, you review the member responsibilities and ways we ask our members to help. Please remember that completion of the nomination form does not guarantee an invitation to join the council. We will follow up with all nominees no later than May 31.

We also need volunteers to help serve on the Nominating Committee! You will be asked to join a one-hour Zoom call in March to review nomination materials and vote for the nominees to be accepted by the full council. This is a great way to serve if you weren’t able to attend the fall meeting or have limited availability. If you are interested, please email me.

Thanks to everyone who has already submitted a nomination, and please reach out if you have questions about nominations or any other council business.

Sincerely,
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Sondra Lomax
Executive Director of Development

, Filed Under: From the Executive Director, Meetings

Make your Fort Worth hotel reservations today

Dear Advisory Council Members,

Happy New Year, and I hope your 2024 is off to a wonderful start! In the rush of the holiday season, you may have missed our previous save-the-date email, so make sure you have your calendars marked for our Spring council meeting in Fort Worth on Wednesday, February 21 and Thursday, February 22.

If you will be traveling from out of town, please don’t forget to book your hotel room now. We are pleased to offer a special discounted room rate of $259/night at the new Crescent Hotel in Fort Worth’s Cultural District. You can make your reservations online or call (817) 661-1788 and reference the UT COFA Room Block.

We are going to have a fun, art-filled 24 hours of activities including the business meeting with remarks from the dean, private museum tours, and meals with your fellow council members. We will start midday on Wednesday and conclude by late afternoon on Thursday, with additional optional events pending for Thursday evening. 

We want to hear from you too! If you have ideas for activities or arts contacts in Fort Worth, please email me at lomax@austin.utexas.edu to help us build an exciting itinerary for your fellow members.

Sincerely,
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Sondra Lomax
Executive Director of Director of Development

, Filed Under: From the Executive Director, Uncategorized

Remembering Yacov Sharir

Dear Friends,

Photo of Yacov Sharir looking into the camera. He has gray hair and glasses and is wearing a dark gray shirt and black jacket.

With sadness, I write to inform you of the passing of Yacov Sharir, the husband of Advisory Council member Pat Clubb, as well as a professor emeritus in the Department of Theatre and Dance. An innovator in the field of contemporary dance, Yacov is remembered as an inspiring collaborator, uniquely talented educator, and much-beloved member of the College of Fine Arts community for over 40 years.

Yacov made a lasting impression on professional dance in Austin, across Texas, and beyond. He was also a scholarship donor, helping to ensure talented dance students could complete their educations debt free. More on Yacov’s work and impact on our college can be found here: In Memoriam: Yacov Sharir.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the Yacov Sharir and Pat Clubb Endowed Scholarship in Dance at The University of Texas at Austin. Donations may be made by phoning toll free 866-488-3927; giving online; or by check made payable to The University of Texas at Austin and mailed to our office: UT College of Fine Arts, 2501 Trinity Street, D1400, Austin, TX 78712-1424.

Please join me in expressing our deepest condolences to Pat on her loss.

Sincerely,

Sondra Lomax's handwritten signature
Sondra Lomax
Executive Director and Associate Dean for Development

, Filed Under: From the Executive Director

RSVP for Aspen, July 18-19

Dear Friends,

The College of Fine Arts invites you to meet us in Aspen, Colorado July 18-19 for socializing and a schedule of exclusive events highlighting the vibrant arts and music scene in this region. A special thanks to Advisory Council member Meredith Luskey for helping us to organize an exciting itinerary.

Please RSVP by Friday, June 30. You will be able to RSVP to individual events. The event schedule is provided below, and more details will be forthcoming in late June.

Click here to RSVP

Schedule for Aspen
Tuesday, July 18
6:00pm – Music with a View at the Aspen Art Museum*
Private Dinner following Music with a View, location TBA

Wednesday, July 19
Morning, Time TBA – Private studio tour, artist James Surls, Carbondale, CO
Midday, Time TBA – Group Lunch near the studio, location TBA
5:00pm – Aspen Conducting Academy Orchestra at the Benedict Music Tent*

*Official event of the Aspen Music Festival

Note on Accommodations
Due to limited availability of hotel accommodations in Aspen, the college is unable to provide a room block for this gathering.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Assistant Director of Development Lauren Cunningham at lauren.cunningham@austin.utexas.edu. I look forward to seeing you in Aspen!

Warm Regards,
Sondra Lomax signature
Sondra Lomax
Executive Director of Development

, Filed Under: From the Executive Director

Save the Date: Aspen, July 18-19

Dear Advisory Council, Parents Council, and Friends,

The College of Fine Arts and Advisory Council member Meredith Luskey invite you to meet us in Aspen, Colorado this July for socializing and some exclusive events highlighting the vibrant arts and music scene in this region. A special thanks to Meredith for helping us to organize an exciting itinerary.

In the coming weeks we will be sending out a detailed schedule with a formal RSVP request. If you have any questions, please reach out to Assistant Director of Development Lauren Cunningham at lauren.cunningham@austin.utexas.edu. I look forward to seeing you in Aspen!

Warm Regards,
Sondra Lomax signature
Sondra Lomax
Executive Director of Development

, Filed Under: Council Business, From the Executive Director

2023-2024 New Members

Dear Advisory Council Members,

I am pleased to welcome the newest members of the Fine Arts Advisory Council! Thanks again to all who submitted nominations for the 2023-2024 cohort.

Additionally, I would like to once again recognize the Nominating Committee for their dedicated service to the council in this important capacity. The 2022-2023 Nominating Committee members are: Stephanie Goodman (Austin), Nancy Ginsburg (Fort Worth), Amy Hofland (Dallas), Aynsley Letzerich (Houston), and Caroline Schupbach (San Antonio).

Please join me in welcoming to the council:
Charles Hardy, Dallas
Nominated by Sondra Lomax
Charles retired in 2013 after 33 years as General Counsel of Austin Industries, Inc., one of the largest construction companies in the U.S. Since retiring, he has been Of Counsel at Slates Harwell LLP, serving as an arbitrator in construction disputes and litigation. Before joining Austin Industries in 1980, Charles was an assistant district attorney and felony prosecutor in the Travis County District Attorney’s office. Charles received a Bachelor of Journalism from UT-Austin in 1971 and his J.D. from St. Mary’s University School of Law in 1975. He enjoys theatre and the visual arts, and he is a supporter of the T Department of Theatre and Dance. Charles was born and raised in Hondo, Texas and his family traces its ancestry back to the earliest Texas settlers.
 
Sheri Henriksen, Austin
Nominated by Aynsley Letzerich and Cynthia Coulson
Sheri holds degrees in journalism from Texas Tech and petroleum engineering from UT-Austin, as well as a Master of Liberal Arts from Rice University. She is an active volunteer, serving on the advisory board of the Glasscock School of Continuing Education at Rice University, UTHealth Houston, UTHealth School of Nursing in Houston, and the Center for Medicine After the Holocaust in Houston. Sheri recently moved to Austin after living in Houston for 38 years and is “just getting started” on her community involvement through memberships with KUT, KMFA, Texas Performing Arts Inner Circle, and the Austin Chamber Music Center.Sarah Bartholow Hsu, Austin
Nominated by Vicki Bartholow
After obtaining a BA in Art History from UT-Austin in 2004, Sarah, a Dallas native, moved to New York City. She applied her degree in the commercial and entrepreneurial spaces of luxury fashion and consumer brand development at a prominent agency. Sarah returned to Austin in 2009 to pursue her career in strategic brand development and design. With a profound curiosity in the contemporary arts, in addition to Sarah’s brand consulting practice, she is presently retained by a handful of commercial and private residential clients to source and procure art. Art and design have forever saturated Sarah’s career, and her ceaseless desire to explore and learn about new art and design approaches navigates her own practice today.

Brent Jackson, Dallas
Nominated by Stephen Austin
Brent received his BFA in Studio Art in 1993 and his MBA in 2005 from UT-Austin. He is the founder and CEO of Oaxaca Interests, LLC, a real estate operator, developer, and investment firm focused on the urban core of key high-growth Texas markets. In September 2022, Brent founded Oaxaca Interests’ newest venture, HiFAB, a new manufacturing plant located in Grand Prairie, Texas that will be dedicated to creating high-end modular homes. Haciendas, homes designed by San Antonio’s celebrated architecture firm Lake|Flato, will be HiFAB’s first product.
 
Mary Kehoe, Santa Fe, NM
Nominated by Malee Helm
Dallas was Mary’s home until she moved to Santa Fe, NM 20 years ago. Mary studied art history and studio art in college (UT-Austin) and high school (Hockaday/Dallas). She is a painter and clothing designer using her hand-painted fabrics. She has also sold fabrics to designers to use for upholstery and decorative pieces. Currently, Mary is a Real Estate Broker with Sotheby’s in Santa Fe. In Dallas, Mary was an active volunteer with Crystal Charity Ball, Junior League, the Dallas SPCA, and was co-chairman of the Cattle Baron’s Ball. In Santa Fe, Mary and her husband Chuck are members of the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum.

Laura Matz, Austin
Nominated by Janis Brous
Laura is a respected public policy strategist and strategic communicator with more than 15 years of experience in developing and executing highly effective legislative campaigns. In 2006, the San Antonio Express-News named her one of the state’s top five lobbyists. Prior to starting her own private practice, Laura worked at an independent lobby firm where she represented a wide range of clients. She also worked at the international law firm of Thompson & Knight where she successfully represented corporate clients, organized an international trade mission and led a successful legislative effort to authorize groundwater contamination laws. Laura received her Bachelor of Science in Communication Studies from The University of Texas at Austin, and she is a member of Texas Women for the Arts, an arts advocacy group under the Texas Cultural Trust.

Elisabeth McCabe, Houston
Nominated by Caroline Finkelstein
Elisabeth is a co-founder and principal designer at ecco interior design in Houston, TX. In addition to her thriving business, Elisabeth is an active volunteer with the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, serving in various roles and memberships in modern and contemporary art, art education, and the Family Circle, as well was a member of the Rice Design Alliance. Her past volunteer experience includes serving as a trustee of the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston and a trustee of the Houston Symphony.

Wayne McCullough, Dallas
Nominated by Sharon McCullough
Wayne is a Partner and Managing Director at Beacon Pointe Advisors and taps into his vast experience, industry acclaim and relationship-based partnerships with clients to provide top of the line service and expertise in wealth management. Prior to joining Beacon Pointe, Wayne served as the President and Managing Partner for Benchmark Private Wealth Management. Wayne, a sixth generation Texan, received his BA from the University of Texas at Austin and holds the Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) designation. Wayne, his wife and children reside in Dallas, where he serves various non-profit organizations.

Tania Schwartz, El Paso
Nominated by Sondra Lomax
Following a career in K-12 education, Tania is an active advocate for the arts and education in El Paso, TX. She holds a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from the University of Texas at El Paso and is currently in candidacy for a doctorate in Educational Leadership and Foundations also at UTEP. Tania currently serves on the boards of the Texas Cultural Trust, Texas Women for the Arts, the Tom Lea Institute: Arts & Culture Programming, Kids Excel El Paso, and the Cornudas Mountain Foundation. Her past community involvement includes work with the UTEP Development Board, the University of New Mexico School of Architecture, Junior League of El PASO and the Women’s Fund of El Paso.

Helen Sharp, Austin
Nominated by Susanna Showers Moldawer
Helen Sharp is an innovator in the world of public relations and brand-story development for emerging, mission-driven brands. She’s worked with impactful, sustainable businesses such as the Surfrider Foundation, 1% for the Planet, Repurpose and LastObject. She is the founder of Be Influential, a specialized public relations agency for a better world. Helen also maintains a ceramics studio out of her home and sells her work to stores around Texas.

Laura Spence, Austin
Nominated by Judy Tate
Laura is the founder and president of Rosebud Meal Kits and executive director of its nonprofit arm, Rosebud Eastside Alliance, providing fresh, high-quality meal kits to underserved families in Austin. Laura was also involved in the development of two murals in East Austin. She holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in social work from UT-Austin.

Megan Zafereo, Austin
Nominated by Janis Brous
Megan was born and raised in Fort Worth before attending UT-Austin and earning a Bachelor of Nursing in 2004. Upon graduating, she worked at Memorial Herman in the Houston Medical Center. In 2006 Megan married her husband and moved to Greenwich, CT where they lived and worked before moving to the UK. The Zafereo family lived in London for 13 years and during that time welcomed three children and enjoyed lots of travel. In 2020 they returned to Texas. Megan is continuing her nursing career at St. David’s in the recovery room. Outside of work, Megan enjoys spending time with her children and volunteering at the Assistance League of Austin.
As always, my sincere thanks to each and every one of you for all you do for the College of Fine Arts.

Warm regards,
Sondra Lomax signature
Sondra Lomax
Executive Director of Development

, Filed Under: From the Executive Director

Take the 2023 Member Survey
 

Dear Friends,

Before you retreat for the summer, we ask that you please take ten minutes to complete a short survey to help us improve your experience as a member of the College of Fine Arts Advisory Council. Ramón and I are so grateful for the hard work of the Executive Committee this spring, who met to brainstorm and discuss ideas to update council procedures and events. Now we turn to the council at large for your feedback on some of our most common questions.
Take the Survey
 

Again, the survey should take approximately ten minutes. We greatly appreciate your thoughts. Thank you for your participation!

Warm Regards,
Sondra Lomax signature
Sondra Lomax
Executive Director of Development

, Filed Under: Council Business, From the Executive Director

Save the date: Fall Meeting October 26-27, 2023

View from Guadalupe Room event space in Rowling Hall.
View from Guadalupe Room event space in Rowling Hall.

Dear Friends,

We are excited to announce the dates for the 2023 Fine Arts Advisory Council Fall Meeting! Please save October 26-27, 2023 on you calendar.

Information on a hotel block and the full schedule of events will be forthcoming. In the meantime we can provide the following schedule outline:

Thursday, October 26
Afternoon: New Member Orientation and Executive Committee Meeting
Evening: Full Council Reception, location TBD

Friday, October 27
Full Council Meeting, Rowling Hall, Guadalupe Room (RH4), attached to the AT&T Center

Please watch your inbox for updates and more information, and feel free to reach out to Assistant Director of Development Lauren Cunningham at lauren.cunningham@austin.utexas.edu with any questions.

We look forward to seeing you on campus in October. Have a wonderful summer!

Sincerely,
Sondra Lomax signature
Sondra Lomax
Executive Director of Development

, Filed Under: From the Executive Director

Registration is Open: Santa Fe Spring Meeting
 

Dear Advisory Council and Parents Council members,

We are so excited to announce the itinerary and open registration for the College of Fine Arts 2023 Spring Advisory Council Meeting in Santa Fe, New Mexico! 

 
Click Here to Register Now
Schedule
Thursday, March 30
Cocktail Reception at La Fonda on the Plaza
Optional Group Dinner at Sazón*Friday, March 31
Coffee and Business Meeting at La Fonda on the Plaza
Docent-led tour of the art collection at La Fonda on the Plaza
Lunch on your own
Historic walking tour of downtown Santa Fe
Happy Hour and Gallery Tour at Shiprock
Dinner on your own

Saturday, April 1
Private tour of the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum
Optional Group Lunch at The Compund*
Self-Guided tour of Canyon Road galleries with custom recommendations
Sunset reception at the home of Caroline and Robert Schupbach

*Per-person fee applies, see registration site for details

Accommodations
We have a group rate at La Fonda On the Plaza.
100 E. San Francisco Street, Santa Fe, NM 87501
Use this link to reserve your room now.
Deadline to reserve is Tuesday, February 28.
 

Exact times and locations for events are listed on the registration page. Please note that some optional events will require a per-person fee, and you may reach out to Assistant Director of Development Lauren Cunningham at lauren.cunningham@austin.utexas.edu with any questions.

I hope to see you soon in Santa Fe!

Warm Regards,
Sondra Lomax signature
Sondra Lomax
Executive Director of Development

, Filed Under: From the Executive Director

Fall 2022 Meeting Recap

Dear Friends,

On behalf of Dean Rivera-Servera and the entire College of Fine Arts, thank you to all who joined us at the 2022 Fine Arts Advisory Council Fall Meeting on October 13-14! We appreciate your attendance to celebrate the various achievements of the college over the past year, engage in the lively round-table discussions, hear about our outstanding fundraising success, and listen to the dean’s report on new faculty hires and new community projects.

Additional thanks to Provost Sharon Wood and our other inspiring presenters on Friday: Nathan Langfitt, Director of Career Services; Kate Dawson, Associate Professor in the Department of Theatre and Dance; and the guest performers from the Butler Opera Center. We are especially grateful to Megan and Ryan Zafereo for hosting us in their lovely home for our Thursday evening reception, and the performers, Yebeen Seo and Ellie Sievers, from the violin studio of Professor Brian Lewis.

You can access copies of the meeting handouts here.

Please watch your email for information on upcoming events and save the date for our 2023 Spring Meeting in Santa Fe, New Mexico, March 30-April 1.

Thank you again for all you do for the College of Fine Arts!

Warm Regards,
Sondra Lomax signature
Sondra Lomax
Executive Director of Director of Development