College of Arts + Architecture

The lobby of Robinson Hall for the Performing Arts on the UNC Charlotte main campus is the location for the annual piano sale Aug. 3-5. The Department of Music has the use of new first-class pianos on a no-cost basis each school year. This arrangement is provided through an association with the Rockley Family Foundation. These instruments, those provided to other institutions and those made available by various manufacturers will be sold to perpetuate this valuable program.

David Janowiak is the new chair of the Department of Theatre, effective July 1. He comes to UNC Charlotte from Western Oregon University, where he has spent the past seven years as professor and chair of the Creative Arts Division, following 17 years leading the WOU Theatre Department.

Professor of Architecture and Urban Design José Gámez was named interim dean of the College of Arts + Architecture. His appointment begins July 1, following the departure of Dean Brook Muller.

Professor of Architectural History Lee Gray joined CBS Sunday Morning News May 21 for a feature story on elevators. An international expert on elevators and escalators, Gray was interviewed at the Biltmore House in Asheville, where the 19th-century elevator still has a staff operator. He explained how elevators changed the world. Watch the segment, “Elevators: Living the High Life,” here.

Lidia Klein, assistant professor of architectural history, had had her book, “Political Postmodernisms: Architecture in Chile and Poland, 1970–1990,” published by Routledge. The work argues for a redefinition of postmodern architecture.

Professor of Digital Media Heather Freeman was awarded a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to produce the podcast, “Magic in the United States: 400 Years of Magical Beliefs, Practices and Cultural Conflicts.”

Assistant Professor of Architecture Liz McCormick and co-investigator Brett Tempest, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering, have received a grant from the National Science Foundation to engage students in McCormick’s continued research into climate-resilient architecture in tropical regions.

Assistant Professor of Dance Kaustavi Sarkar has received the James H. Woodward Faculty Research Award. Established in 2021, this annual award is given to an untenured faculty member who has been reappointed to a tenure-track position. Sarkar is the second faculty member to receive the award.

Allison Petrauskas ’16 is the 2023 recipient of the New Professional Art Educator Award from the National Art Education Association, the leading professional membership organization for visual arts educators.

Students Nicholas Andruzzi, Christian Souza and Izzy Oyler won first place in the National Association of Teachers of Singing Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference held recently at Liberty University in Virginia.

Andruzzi placed first in the Adult Classical Tenor/Baritone/Bass category, and Souza placed first in the Third-Year Student Classical Tenor/Baritone/Bass category. They study voice with Brian Arreola, professor of voice.