From the opening of the Van Cliburn Concert Hall at TCU to medical theater and helping reduce violent crime in Fort Worth, Horned Frogs are being featured in the news.
INSTITUTIONAL
At TCU’s new Van Cliburn Concert Hall, the venue finally matches the musical talent
April 6, 2022
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
The new Van Cliburn Concert Hall at TCU, named for award-winning pianist Van Cliburn, is the crown jewel of TCU’s new $53
million music center, which opened in the fall of 2020. “This hall sounds great for
an orchestra with a chorus, or it sounds great for a solo pianist,” said Richard C. Gipson, dean of TCU’s College of Fine Arts. “And it’s all possible because of the tunable
acoustics.” From master classes with visiting artists to world-class performances,
events made possible by the new concert hall will elevate music students’ education
at TCU. “For the last 20 years, we’ve had a really world-class school of music. We
finally now have a space where we can show it off in a way that’s been deserved for
a long time,” said Sean Atkinson, director of the School of Music.
Fort Worth PD releases plan to reduce violent crime
April 5, 2022
KDFW-TV
Science will be one of the tools used to fight crime in Fort Worth. Police Chief Neil Noakes MS ’19 set a goal of cutting violent crime by 10% in the next year. Data scientists at TCU are helping police develop a model to track crime and allow police to respond to trouble
spots just like Dallas has done with some success.
Van Cliburn International Piano Competition announces its 2022 contestants
April 4, 2022
The Dallas Morning News
The Cliburn has announced the 30 young pianists who will participate in the 16th Van
Cliburn International Piano Competition. Among them will be Dmytro Choni, a 28-year-old
Ukrainian who auditioned here while his family fled Kyiv during the siege. Seventy-two
competitors were selected from 388 international applicants for screening auditions
held March 6-12 at Texas Christian University’s PepsiCo Recital Hall. Preliminary and quarterfinal rounds — June 2-4 and June 5-6, respectively — will
be held at TCU’s new Van Cliburn Concert Hall.
FACULTY
TCU Medical School Students' Stories Become Stage Play
April 8, 2022
KDFW
Stories from the TCU School of Medicine about the battle against COVID-19 are now
the basis of a stage play. Theater Instructor Ayvaunn Penn is the founder and producer of what’s called the Stethoscope Stage Festival. “This
is a great avenue to employ applied theater,” she said, “and then following that up
with conversation from medical professionals – doctors, nurses from our local community
and from our med school, the TCU School of Medicine.”
Stethoscope Stage breaks fourth wall between patients and providers
April 7, 2022
Fort Worth Report
Theater Instructor Ayvaunn Penn was interested in the gap between where medical professionals and the general public
were getting their information. Over the summer, she got the idea to try to bring
those perspectives together in the theater for the festival Stethoscope Stage. “It
just occurred to me, why not use my profession, what I know and love, what people
like to gather around — and that’s stories — to help share accurate information," Penn said. She partnered with the TCU School of Medicine. “A lot of what they’ve already
been thinking about and writing about has been the effects of the COVID pandemic,”
said Lauren Mitchell, assistant professor of medical education and director of narrative medicine. “I was
so moved by the effort to take perspectives, that was threaded throughout that piece,” said Chase Crossno, an assistant artistic director and an assistant professor of medical education.
Taxing Land More Than Buildings Would Help Detroit Homeowners and Spur Development
April 4, 2022
PR Newswire
Commissioned by Invest Detroit with support from The Kresge Foundation, a new study
on split-rate property taxation analyzes data from municipalities in Pennsylvania that
have implemented spit-rate taxes, as well as real estate and property tax data from Detroit.
Co-authors include Zackary Hawley, associate professor of economics at Texas Christian University.
Ron Pitcock named dean of the John V. Roach Honors College
April 4, 2022
Fort Worth Report
Texas Christian University announced that Ron Pitcock was nameddean and Wassenich Family Endowed Chair of the John V. Roach Honors College following a nationwide search. Pitcock joined TCU in 2001 and has spent the past 15
years in the Roach Honors College. His term as dean will begin June 1, 2022.
'Barbershop Talk Therapy' Emphasizes Importance of Men’s Mental Health
April 3, 2022
KXAS-TV
A candid community conversation was held for the first time at a Fort Worth barbershop
that offered free haircuts, health screenings and open conversation. “So many folks,
especially Black folks and Black men, aren’t used to seeing a Black psychiatrist that
is in the space. I think them knowing that I’ve been through therapy myself, is incredibly
helpful,” said Dr. Brian Dixon, assistant professor at the TCU School of Medicine. For Antonio Igbokidi, a second-year medical student, it’s a passion project. “This particular program
is for us to have a conversation in a vulnerable, raw, environment,” Igbokidi said.
People 50 and up are now eligible for another COVID-19 booster shot. Here’s what to
know
April 1, 2022
The Dallas Morning News
Health experts said because cases continue to be low in North Texas, the decision
on booster shot timing is highly individual. “Definitely if it’s been more than four
months, it’s definitely highly advisable,” said Dr. Nikhil Bhayani, assistant professor at the TCU School of Medicine. The booster shot improves antibody
response for several months, meaning getting one soon would prepare people in the
event that the region experiences another COVID-19 wave. “One thing that we learned
from the omicron surge was that those people who are boosted were 21 times less likely
to die from COVID compared to those who were unvaccinated, and seven times less likely
to be hospitalized,” he said, citing CDC data.
Filing season doesn't have to be so taxing for artists
April 1, 2022
Fort Worth Report
Jessica Humphrey, theater instructor at TCU’s College of Fine Arts, teaches a course called “Professional
Seminar” where students also create professional websites and practice negotiating
pay. Students typically take the course fall term of their junior year after they’ve
taken other courses in their major that are focused on honing their craft. “Basically,
it just puts you in the mindset that this isn’t just fun. This isn’t just acting. This isn’t just dancing. The class itself really helps
you to think of it like a business,” Humphrey said.
ALUMNI
Its recent past marred by deficits and drama, Dallas Contemporary hires a new leader
April 5, 2022
The Dallas Morning News
Dallas Contemporary, which began as a museum in 1978 but whose recent history has
been marred by financial deficits and internal discord, has hired a new executive
director. Carolina Alvarez-Mathies ’10 was born and grew up in El Salvador in the midst of a civil war before immigrating
to the United States when she was 15. She graduated from Texas Christian University
with a degree in fashion merchandising. “We looked inward and initiated a robust digital
program. We kept the museum alive and active through online innovation,” she said.
These are the 13 North Texans nominated for Grammys in 2022
April 5, 2022
MSN
Year in and year out, the music industry's biggest night recognizes North Texas for
the consistent hotbed for immense talent that it is. That's once again the case in
2022, as another 13 Dallas-area musicians are up for awards as nominees at the 64th
Annual Grammy Awards. Mark Lettieri ’05, who lives in Fort Worth and went to Texas Christian University, is up for Best Contemporary
Instrumental Album for his “Deep: The Baritone Sessions, Vol. 2” LP.
Empowerment through representation: Diane Price-Herndl raises visibility through literature
April 1, 2022
The Oracle
During Diane Price-Herndl’s childhood, her hometown of St. Jo, Texas, was still racially segregated with many
being unable to pursue higher education. Refusing to let her be tethered down by the
town’s hatred, her mother, a passionate supporter of civil rights and education, encouraged
her to aim higher than her current reality. Now the Women’s and Gender Studies Department
chair [at the University of South Florida], Price-Herndl was the first in her family
to attend college at Texas Christian University in 1977. “The only people I ever met
[before going to college] who had been to college were doctors and my school teachers,”
she said. “When I got to college, it was like the whole world exploded out in front
of me.”
TCU hosts Global Energy Symposium to discuss future of industry
April 1, 2022
omny.fm
TCU hosted its Global Energy Symposium as part of the Neeley School of Business’ innovation
week. Ann Bluntzer, executive director of the TCU Ralph Lowe Energy Institute, said, “Our mission at
TCU is certainly always to try to make sure we're connecting our students with people
in industry as it relates to energy... it's important to have these moments, where
you are bringing thought leaders together from all over the world to come to TCU to
try come up with some solutions.”
ATHLETICS
TCU gives Dixon extension after 1st NCAA victory in 35 years
April 1, 2022
Associated Press
TCU announced a contract extension for coach Jamie Dixon through the 2027-2028 season Friday after he led his alma mater to its first NCAA
Tournament victory in 35 years. Dixon was a player in 1987 the last time the Horned
Frogs won a tournament game before they beat Seton Hall 69-42 on March 17. “I’m excited
to build on what we accomplished this past year and eager to get back in the gym to
prepare for next season,” said Dixon.