Archives: Episodes

Alumni for the Talkington College of Visual & Performance Arts is growing tremendously, and Kristi Mangiapane is leading the way to keeping alumni engaged and informed. As lead administrator for outreach and academic awards, alumni relations is just one of Kristi's many job duties, but it's also close to her heart.   Listen in to learn about how the college is bringing their alumni together and in touch with current students.

TCVPA's Student Success Specialist, Jessica Murph, speaks with us this week about her role in supporting students' success both in and out of the classroom. Complementary to the academic advisors, Jessica is ready to listen and help work through all the stresses of college life, helping connect students in need to the right resources available to them through Texas Tech University.

Associate Dean for Faculty, Research, Creativity, & Outreach, Dr. Ivy Walz, focuses mainly on what falls into the outreach portion of her title as the J.T. & Margaret Talkington College of Visual & Performing Arts works to grow their outreach within the community and beyond every year. From singing opera to middle school students, introducing theatre to retirement homes, bringing art festivals to local neighborhoods, and getting college students involved in camps, outreach is integrated into all areas of TCVPA.

Dr. Christopher J. Smith tells us all about the Vernacular Music Center at Texas Tech University, which he founded back in 2020. The VMC engages with folk and traditional music and dance from around the world, with a dedication to the study of the "vernacular" processes by which music and dance can be taught and passed on as a community-building activity.