2022 in Review: Top defining moments, biggest news stories

As we say goodbye to 2022, we celebrate the many successes that marked the past year. From worldwide recognition to alumni dominating the industry. Our wildly creative, gifted and hardworking UNCSA artists made their marks in 2022.

Below are the moments that dominated our year at UNCSA.

Performances

University Milestones

The opening of Artist Village and a time capsule

UNCSA opened its first newly constructed residence hall in 50 years. The new hall is a modern facility that will invigorate the residential environment for current and future students. To commemorate the opening, UNCSA buried a time capsule with contributions from each department, which will be opened on the 100th anniversary of UNCSA.

visit the village

Rachel Williams named dean of the Division of Liberal Arts

Rachel Williams was named the new dean of the Division of Liberal Arts at UNCSA on July 1. Williams, an artist, teacher and advocate who has experience in visual arts, feminist theory, women’s issues, and community engagement, comes to UNCSA after more than two decades at the University of Iowa where she was associate professor and department chair of Gender, Women’s and Sexuality Studies and Studio Art.

meet DEAN WILLIAMS

Lissy Garrison named vice chancellor for advancement

Lissy Garrison was named the new vice chancellor for advancement at UNCSA on Jan. 10, 2022. Garrison brings a wide range of experience in fundraising and arts leadership, including 11 years in higher education development and 15 years as executive director of the contemporary ballet company Ballet Nouveau Colorado.

MEET VICE CHANCELLOR GARRISON

Tasha M. Myers hired as first EDIB-dedicated employee

The Division of Student Affairs hired Tasha M. Myers as the inaugural director of the new Office of Intercultural Engagement in August. She is the first employee in the university’s history solely dedicated to EDIB.

EDIB PROGRESS REPORT

Stevens Center renovations began

UNCSA selected nationally-recognized firms Little and Steinberg Hart as the design team that is leading Phase One of the multiphase, comprehensive renovation of the historic Stevens Center in downtown Winston-Salem.

Learn about the plan

Awards and Recognition

School of Drama ranked No. 4 in the world(opens in new tab)

The Hollywood Reporter ranked the School of Drama at UNCSA No. 4 on its list of the “Top 25 Drama Schools in the World(opens in new tab),” for the second year in a row.

More about the ranking

Costume design program among Top 10 in the nation(opens in new tab)

The costume design program in the School of Design & Production is among the Top 10 of its kind in the U.S., according to The Hollywood Reporter(opens in new tab). The program has been in the Top 10 since the list began in 2018.

More about the ranking

School of Filmmaking No. 10 among top film schools(opens in new tab)

The School of Filmmaking was ranked No. 10 on The Hollywood Reporter's "Top 25 American Film Schools" list and the graduate-level film music composition at No. 14 on its list of the "The World’s Best Music Schools." Additionally, UNCSA was recognized by Variety in its list of “30 Top Film Schools," ranked No. 10 on TheWrap's "Top 50 Film Schools" list and included in MovieMaker's list of best film schools.

THE SCHOOL OF FILMMAKING

'A Little Prayer' Selected for Sundance Film Festival(opens in new tab)

The film is written and directed by alumnus Angus MacLachlan,(opens in new tab), co-produced by School of Filmmaking Assistant Dean of Graduate Studies Lauren Vilchik and stars several alumni.

MORE ABOUT THE Film

VR film selected for South by Southwest Film Festival(opens in new tab)

“Black Ice,” an interactive virtual reality (VR) short film created at the School of Filmmaking at UNCSA, was selected to screen at the South by Southwest Film Festival (SXSW).

MORE ABOUT FILM

Industry Relevance

UNCSA alumni are nominated for Emmy Awards(opens in new tab)

Alumni from the schools of Drama, Dance, Filmmaking, and Design & Production at UNCSA are nominated for Emmy Awards for work on popular television programs.

MEET our NOMINEES

Three alumni nominated for four Tony Awards(opens in new tab)

Three UNCSA alumni received four Tony Award nominations, and numerous alumni worked on Tony-nominated productions.

MEET our NOMINEES

Music alumni nominated for 2023 Grammy Awards(opens in new tab)

Several alumni from the School of Music were nominated for 2023 Grammy Awards.

MEET our NOMINEES

UNCSA alum nominated for Academy Award(opens in new tab)

Design & Production alum Paul Tazewell was nominated for an Academy Award for best costume design for “West Side Story.” Additionally, multiple alumni appeared in films nominated for Academy Awards for best picture.

MEET THE NOMINEE

Student Success

‘Sammy, without Strings’ wins at Austin Film Festival(opens in new tab)

“Sammy, without Strings,” a student film from the School of Filmmaking, won the best narrative student short award and had its world premiere in competition at the Austin Film Festival.

learn more

UNCSA dancer selected for prestigious ballet competition(opens in new tab)

Will Gyves of Winston-Salem, a 10th-grade ballet student in the School of Dance, was selected for the 2023 Prix de Lausanne, a prestigious international ballet competition.

learn more

Inaugural class of Arts Posse Scholars selected(opens in new tab)

UNCSA and The Posse Foundation(opens in new tab) selected six high school seniors to attend UNCSA as inaugural Arts Posse Scholars, following a rigorous search, interview and audition process.

learn more

Community

UNCSA welcomed The Frontera Project for residency

(opens in new tab)

The Thomas S. Kenan Institute for the Arts at UNCSA, in partnership with the Hispanic League(opens in new tab), presented a residency with The Frontera Project(opens in new tab) — an interactive, multilingual theater experience created and performed by a company of Mexican and U.S. artists.

LEARN ABOUT THE project

Local founding partners announced for national arts and wellness initiative(opens in new tab)

The National League of Cities(opens in new tab) Institute for Youth, Education, and Families announced the selection of Winston-Salem, in partnership with Forsyth County, as one of nine sites nationwide competitively selected to participate in a pilot peer-learning cohort for its newly launched initiative.

MORE ABOUT THE initiative

METL Fellowship brings cutting-edge technology to the forefront(opens in new tab)

The Fellowship at the Media and Emerging Technology Lab (METL) has served practicing artist Karine Fleurima well.

MORE ABOUT THE FELLOWSHIP

by Natalie Shrader

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December 13, 2022

2022 in Review: Top defining moments, biggest news stories

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Performances