College of Arts + Architecture names 2023 distinguished alumni
Six distinguished alumni will be honored by the College of Arts + Architecture at its ninth annual celebration of alumni achievement scheduled for 11:30 a.m., Thursday, March 30, in the Anne R. Belk Theater in Robinson Hall for the Performing Arts.
This year’s honorees are David R. Ravin ’94, architecture; Banks Wilson ’01, art and art history; Rodrigo and Wendy Jiménez ’19, dance; Troy Conn ’02, music; and Jack Taggart ’84, theatre.
David Ravin, president and CEO of Northwood Ravin LLC, manages the day-to-day operations of the company and works with the senior management teams in establishing and implementing strategic goals and initiatives.
Banks Wilson is a designer, marketer, and entrepreneur who has leveraged his unique mix of analytical and creative thinking, strong visual aesthetics, and leadership skills to build one of the Southeast’s largest, and most respected, marketing and advertising agencies.
Rodrigo and Wendy Jiménez are internationally known professional dancers and instructors based in Charlotte. Owners and directors of RW Latin Dance Company for more than 15 years, they travel nationally and internationally teaching master workshops, performing, and competing at some of the top Latin Dance events in the world.
Troy Conn is a professional jazz, classical, and rock guitarist who has been performing and instructing jazz for over two decades. His Charlotte-based jazz bands include the Conn/Davis Duo, Ron Brendle Quartet, Al Sergel IVtet and Jazz Is Led.
Jack Taggart is a feature film head textile artist and an ager/dyer. He began his career as a performer, studying acting, dance and music, and making the choice to major in performing arts at Charlotte. Professor Bob Croghan suggested Taggart consider switching emphasis from performance to design. It was a perfect fit, matching his lifelong loves of drawing and painting with theatre and film.
His movie credits include the Avatar franchise, “Django Unchained,” “Inception,” “Flags of our Fathers,” “Top Gun: Maverick,” “Dunkirk,” “Dune,” “Planet of the Apes,” “American Sniper” and several Marvel Studios’ superhero films including “Guardians of the Galaxy” and “Black Panther.”
The March 30 celebration is open to the public.
Created in 2015, the College of Arts + Architecture Distinguished Alumni Awards recognize the accomplishments of alumni who demonstrate in their work the core themes of the college’s vision: professionalism, global perspective, environmental engagement, connectivity with community, collaboration and the emergence of new ideas, skills and practices. One distinguished alum from each department is chosen annually by its faculty and administration.
Photo, clockwise from upper left, Rodrigo and Wendy Jiménez, David Ravin, Jack Taggart, Troy Conn and Banks Wilson.