Randall Pongos French (BFA '08 Media Arts) is pursuing his dream job as a Studio Operations Technician at ESPN. How did Randall find himself at a job that a lot of people would gladly arm wrestle him for? Randall said it all “started at the University of Arizona where I was able to interview with an ESPN recruiter.” Randall made it through that hoop and went on to an additional interview at the ESPN campus in Bristol, Connecticut, where he interviewed with four individuals that ranged from managers to directors.

When asked what advice he would give to fellow Wildcats, Randall said, “My best advice is to simply be available to any and all opportunities that open a door and then pursue those opportunities with confidence. Even now, you never know what activities or jobs will benefit you when you graduate, but none of that matters if you don't have confidence in yourself and in your abilities.”

Arnie Burton (BFA Acting) is currently appearing in the Broadway hit "The 39 Steps." He is one of only 4 actors in the cast. When asked about his training at UA, Arnie said "Whenever I am asked the question 'where did you train?' I am always proud to say The University of Arizona. What I learned from my teachers and mentors there continues to inspire me in my work today."

Mr. Burton made his Broadway debut in "Amadeus." His Off Broadway credits include the critically acclaimed run of "The Merchant of Venice/The Jew of Malta" in New York and at the Royal Shakespeare Company in England, "Mere Mortals and Others," "The Last Sunday in June," "The Baltimore Waltz," and "The Venetian Twins." Regional work includes "I Am My Own Wife" (Kevin Kline Award for Best Actor). Television credits include guest appearances on "Frasier," "Hope & Faith," "Law & Order," and "Six Degrees." Film credits include "Igby Goes Down" and "Game 6."

Christopher Cano (MM '02), pianist, coach and conductor, offered a class at UA on December 5 focusing on the operatic audition process. He currently is on the vocal coaching staff at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City. He has worked as studio pianist with some of the world's great artists and teachers of singing, including Marilyn Horne, Sherrill Milnes, Luciano Pavarotti, Marni Nixon, Patricia McCaffrey, Joan Patenaude Yarnell and Rita Shane.

In 2007, Mr. Cano joined the faculty of V.O.I.C.Experience, a summer
program for promising young singers in Florida under the administrative and artistic direction of Maria Zouves and renowned baritone, Sherrill Milnes. In 2008, he joined the faculty of the Intermezzo Foundation's Opera Festival in Brugge, Belgium where he served as Assistant Conductor for "Die Zauberflote" and will return in 2009 to make his conducting debut in "Le Nozze di Figaro."

On November 19, UA alumnus Geraldo Rivera returned to campus as a guest of the College of Fine Arts, the School of Media Arts, and the Hanson Film Institute. Mr. Rivera spent the day with faculty, staff, and students, and in the evening spoke to the public about his book "HisPanic: Why Americans Fear Immigrants in the U.S." at the Fox Tucson Theatre.

A journalist and lawyer, Mr. Rivera graduated from UA in 1965 where he played soccer and studied business. During his return visit, he shared memories of his time as a student and learned about the University today. He toured the School of Media Arts, was interviewed by students, watched films made by Media Arts students and faculty, and participated in a book signing at the UA Bookstore. Mr. Rivera was impressed by the diversity on campus and the students he met, and he plans to visit again.

Gazelle Samizay was born in 1981 to a family of teachers and social activists in the midst of the communist invasion in Kabul, Afghanistan. Her family was forced to leave the country, fleeing to Paris, Washington, D.C., and eventually landed in the rural town of Pullman, Washington. Upon graduating high school, Samizay moved to Seattle to begin studies at the University of Washington and received a bachelor's degree in fine arts and international studies in 2004.

As a multimedia artist, Samizay's photography and video works have been exhibited in both the U.S. and abroad, including New York, Washington, D.C., Freiburg, Germany, Iquitos, Peru and Bogotá, Colombia. Samizay is the recipient of numerous grants and awards such as the Mary Gates Research Grant, Arizona Artist Guild Scholarship and the Medici Grant. She also has taught artist workshops in the U.S., Afghanistan and Jordan. Samizay is working on a master's degree in fine arts in photography from the UA.

Photo of rehearsal by Anthony Raimondi

Emily Schoen, senior dance major, won the 1st Place Category Award, Undergraduate Student Division, Visual & Performing Arts in the 2008 UA Student Showcase. Emily created a duet titled "Structure of Dispute" that is a study on visualizing the structure of language. She describes her piece as a common, distinctive form of communication--an argument--that depicts its linguistic skeleton in moving bodies. Emily used three different themes of an argument that could be transcribed into movement. All of these themes culminated into what Emily describes as "my way of depicting an argument without its emotional context." "Structure of Dispute" was presented in the UA School of Dance Student Spotlight December 4-7.

Emily was born in Wisconsin and has been dancing for 17 years. Emily would like to work for a dance company and also teach Pilates, which she will be doing soon as a part-time job.

Sama Alshaibi, an assistant professor of art in the Photography Department, was elected to the Society of Photographic Education's (SPE) national board of directors. She will start a four year term in March 2009. SPE, a non-profit organization established in 1964, seeks to provide a forum for the discussion of photography as a means of creative expression and cultural insight. Sama's work fit in perfectly with the purpose of the forum for her work investigates “borderlands” identities as critical sites in both physical and psychological terms. In addition to being named to the SPE board, Sama received the 2008 Honorable Mention for Excellence in Photography Teaching from Center (formerly the Santa Fe Center for Photography) in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The Center, which was founded in 1994, honors, supports and provides opportunity for gifted and committed photographers.

Photo by Gazelle Samizay of BFA Studio Art - Photography major Matthew Wagoner’s untitled inkjet-print piece at the BFA Opening

In November, the UA Lionel Rombach Gallery hosted the Fall 2008 BFA Exhibition. Twice a year, graduating seniors in the BFA program have the opportunity to showcase the work of their undergraduate studies. “The show highlights the accomplishments of each student, exhibiting exemplary pieces and emphasizing the techniques, concepts and methods the students honed under our faculty,” says Brooke Grucella, Curator for the Lionel Rombach and Joseph Gross Galleries.

Students must complete a competitive application process. Among those who qualified is 2D Painting student Alicia Mizrahi. Alicia exhibited an acrylic painting from her "Smile Series." This series depicts extreme portraiture with up-close detail on a face, the subject’s expression and a clown’s smile creates dark and devious imagery. Photography student Brayden Harp’s "Looking Without, Being" is a mixed media photograph on canvas. The bifurcated image is of a young woman and various journal entries superimposed over another image. Toned with coffee and its frame stained with cigarette ash, the image appears aged and full of memory.

Victor Lipscomb, junior dance major, is the first winner of the Sevigny First Generation Scholarship. This is a scholarship provides for students that have never had a family member attend college before and who aspire to be the first in their family to attend.

The Sevigny First Generation Scholarship assists motivated students who often lack a family history of academic role models and may not have the means to fund a college education. These students may arrive on campus ill-prepared to meet the unanticipated costs and the many challenges of college life. Encouragement and a solid support system will enable them to persevere and achieve long term success.

The scholarship will provide tuition assistance for one or more outstanding undergraduates who are in the first generation of their families to attend college and are majoring in a discipline within the College. Mentoring and career development resources will be available as will opportunities to travel to workshops, competitions, internships and summer educational enrichment experiences. This is a great opportunity for students and for the future of the College of Fine Arts!

FIVE! a black tie extravaganza of dance, music and art celebrating five years of stellar performances in the Stevie Eller Dance Theatre was enjoyed by 500 guests, including this distinguished table:

Front row: Patricia Likins, President Emeritus John (71-82) and Helen Schaefer

Back row: Ann Boice, Phyllis Koffler, Merrily Davis, former Sr. VP for Academic Affairs and Provost George Davis (99-07), President Emeritus Peter Likins (97-06), President Emeritus Henry Koffler (82-91), Arizona Board of Regents member and current President Fred Boice (00-present)