The University of Arizona

About

About Arizona Arts Equity in the Arts

Arizona Arts serves as a gateway to the visual and performing arts assets, experiences, and educational programs on the University of Arizona campus. It brings together the highly regarded academic programs in the College of Fine Arts — the schools of dance; art; music; and theatre, film & television — and the University’s world-class arts presenting and engagement units, including Arizona Arts Live, the Center for Creative Photography, and the University of Arizona Museum of Art. We are dedicated to educating, connecting, and inspiring every member of the Wildcat community and all visitors to the University of Arizona campus.

Arizona Arts EDI Mission

Arizona Arts fosters inclusive communities, equitable experiences, and diverse perspectives as cornerstones of creativity, artistic expression, and cultural production.

Arizona Arts EDI Vision

We seek to advance equity, diversity and inclusion in the arts and arts education regionally and globally by

Transforming our curricula and cultivating inclusive learning experiences inside and outside the classroom;
Promoting diverse programming that represents the work of artists and content that are reflective of a wide variety of perspectives, identities, and aesthetic repertoires;
Connecting with local, national, and international communities; and
Promoting racial and social justice in the arts sector.

Diversity & Inclusion Committee

Arizona Arts Diversity & Inclusion Committee comprises students, faculty, and staff from the College of Fine Arts and visual and performing arts engagement units. The committee’s charge is as follows:

Framing – Define and disseminate definitions of equity, diversity, and inclusion for the Division.
Communicating – Develop an EDI statement that will frame the work for all units.
Assessing – Collect, analyze, and synthesize the current EDI efforts, challenges, and goals that each unit has for use in the creation of an Arizona Arts EDI Roadmap.
Understanding – Identify internal learning/training needs around EDI and organizational change.
Planning – Finalize the EDI Roadmap and support implementation.

For more information on the committee and how to get involved, email uart-equity@arizona.edu.

2022-2023 Committee Members

Willa Ahlschwede

Assistant Curator of Education & Public Programs
University of Arizona Museum of Art
(she/her/hers)
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“I see my role as a bridge between campus and the wider community. We have a responsibility to recognize barriers to diversity and inclusion in our disciplines and institutions, and to continuously build a more equitable and accessible culture and organization.”

Philip Alejo

Associate Professor, Music, Double Bass
Fred Fox School of Music
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“As a musician, educator, and organizer, I strive to strengthen community connections and encourage equity and belonging in the arts. It is inspiring to collaborate with other dedicated advocates who work for positive change.”

Lindsey Boren

Assistant Box Office Manager
Arizona Arts Live
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“I am a supporter of initiatives and a helper where I can. My role is public facing and I strive to make the public facing parts of Arizona Arts more inclusive and accessible to the whole Tucson community.”

Jona Bustamante

Multimedia Specialist
Arizona Arts
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Tess Christiansen

Registration Assistant
Center for Creative Photography
(she/her/hers)
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“I see my role as advocating for diverse perspectives and experiences to be heard, supporting ongoing and impactful work, and growing Arizona Arts as a welcoming and empowering space for all.”

Chris Compton

Assistant Professor
School of Dance
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“As an educator in Ballet, a Western European artform that has historically lacked in equity, diversity, and inclusion, I feel that I have the opportunity to help change that trajectory, and build an arts community for all.”

Carissa DiCindio, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor
Art and Applied Intercultural Arts Research
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“I see my role on this committee as part of a team that is working to make Arizona Arts a more inclusive and equitable place for students, staff, faculty, and the community.”

Whitney Herr-Buchholz

Director of Development
Arizona Arts
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“As a committee member, I hope to serve as a connector, facilitator, and active participant in advancing the important work of our Arizona Arts community towards EDI”

Kimberly Mast, Ph.D.

Director, Visual Resource Center
School of Art
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“My role is to help faculty and staff learn ways to encourage and implement diversity in their classrooms and across the fine arts campus.”

David Morden

Associate Professor
School of Theatre, Film and Television
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Elaine Romero

Photo Credit: Tim Fullwe

Associate Professor
School of Theatre, Film & Television
(she/hers/ella)
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“I wish to help analyze what we have already, but also look at what we can have. By dreaming together with a group of colleagues a true DEI vision will grow and excite those across the College of Fine Arts to think in new ways and innovate.”

Lindsey Shekleton-Clark

Senior Coordinator, Student Affairs
College of Fine Arts
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Cat Cogliandro

MFA Student, Dance
School of Dance

“I believe my role, as a dance advocate, is to create spaces where EveryBODY can feel safe, seen, and heard, so that all may experience the healing benefits of dance.”

Seoyeon Jenn Kim

Ph.D. Student, Art & Visual Culture Education
School of Art
(she/her)

“I see my role as a transmitter or a messenger for the students in diverse communities to make sure different voices are being heard and brought to the table of concerns.”

Dylan Crites

BA Student, Theater
School of Theater, Film, and Television
(he/they)

“I would like to act as a voice for my fellow students, and I seek to bring more opportunities and equity for everyone.”

Danielle Hunt

BFA Student, 3D and Extended Media
School of Art
(she/her)

“I view my role as that of a messenger: listening to my fellow classmates, taking note of their concerns regarding equity, diversity, and inclusion, and voicing them in a space where they will be heard.”

Sean-David Ta

BFA Student, Film & Television
School of Theater, Film, and Television
(they/them/theirs)

“My role should be to see and listen to the challenges that students are facing, so that I may work to solve the root of access, equity, and inclusion issues with the D&I Committee.”