EKU News
EKU arts center names executive director
The Center for the Performing Arts at Eastern Kentucky University formally introduced Katherine Eckstrand as its executive director Wednesday during a press conference on campus.
Since 2005, Eckstrand has been the director of community development for the Ohio Arts Council in Columbus.
She previously served as executive director of the Clark State Community College Performing Arts Center in Springfield, Ohio, from 1994 to 2005.
In all, Eckstrand has 23 years experience in arts administration and promotion.
“I believe in the power of the arts to transform people and communities,” Eckstrand said. “I have dedicated my professional life to working to change lives and communities through the arts.”
Scheduled to open in the summer of 2011, the Center for the Performing Arts will have a main chamber that seats 2,000 and includes box seating and two balconies.
An adjacent black box theater will seat 250.
The 93,000-square-foot center, which is being constructed adjacent to the Business and Technology Center, is described by officials as being, “Broadway-capable, Broadway-quality.”
“To build a program from the ground up doesn’t happen very often in an art director’s life,” Eckstrand said. “I’m deeply humbled and honored.”
A 13-member board of directors, made up of representatives from EKU, the City of Richmond, the City of Berea and Madison County, was established to hire the executive director.
“Over the last seven months, the selection committee has done a lot of dedicated work to get us where we are today,” said Roger Rogow, vice chair of the Center for the Performing Arts Board of Directors.
A pool of 75 applications was narrowed to three, each of whom was brought in for a interview, said Rogow.
“The selection process was long, it was concentrated, it was tough,” said J.T. Gilbert, chair for the Center for the Performing Arts Board of Directors.
“We had really good candidates,” Gilbert said. “(Eckstrand) had the right combination of experience, ability, education, background and the chemistry that makes the person just right for the position.”
Eckstrand received a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and English from Wilmington College in Wilmington, Ohio, a Master’s of Arts in English from Depaul University in Chicago and is working on a Ph.D. in Arts Policy and Administration from Ohio State University.
Doug Whitlock, president of UK, said he believes arts and sciences provide the foundation for all majors and that the center will do remarkable things on campus for all programs.
“One day the important work we start today will be looked upon as one of the great milestones of the college, the city, the region and the state,” said Whitlock. “Now the work begins.”
Tim Mandell can be reached at tmandell@richmondregister.com or 623-1669, ext. 6696.
- EKU News
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EKU students, faculty to make presentation at UN event
Eight Eastern Kentucky University students and two faculty members will make a joint presentation on human trafficking at the United Nations Youth Global Village this summer in Mexico.
The group, representing EKU’s Women and Gender Studies Program, will present its research and prevention campaign during the international event in Leon on Aug. 24-27. -
EKU earns national recognition as a “green” innovator
Eastern Kentucky University has earned national recognition as a “green” innovator in information technology.
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Forum focuses on drug-free workplace
An upcoming forum will help Madison County businesses operate more efficiently without the hindrance of drugs and alcohol creeping into the workplace.
Madison County’s Agency for Substance Abuse Policy (ASAP) Board is taking registration for its business forum scheduled for Thursday, June 3 from 9 a.m. to noon on Eastern Kentucky University’s campus. Those planning to attend the event need to be pre-registered by Friday. -
Honoring the fallen
Overcast skies and intermittent rain did little to diminish the turnout Tuesday morning for the Kentucky Law Enforcement Memorial ceremony at the Department of Criminal Justice Training center on Eastern Kentucky University’s campus.
Gov. Steve Beshear was on hand to lay the ceremonial wreath at the memorial outside the DOCJT campus before delivering brief remarks thanking all law enforcement officers for their service. -
EKU to host summer writing conference
Eastern Kentucky University is offering a week-long summer writing conference open to students as well as non-students.
Creative writers will have an opportunity to work closely with faculty members and visiting writers during five days of activities, lectures and one-on-one counseling. -
Eastern working on alliances with Brazil
For several years, Eastern Kentucky University has built alliances with several universities in Asia and Europe that facilitate regular exchanges of students and faculty as well as collaboration on research and program development.
A few joint-degree programs allow exchange students to obtain diplomas from EKU and a university in an Asian or European country. -
Student wins award for small business idea
An Eastern Kentucky University student developed a small business idea that garnered a cash reward.
Joe Eisenhauer was chosen as the student winner in the seventh annual Excellence in Entrepreneurship Collegiate Business Concept Challenge program honoring business and entrepreneurship in Southern and Eastern Kentucky. -
EKU honors 2,124 degree candidates at commencement
Eastern Kentucky University honored 2,124 degree candidates at its annual spring commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 8.
The number included the University’s first-ever doctoral degree recipient, Margaret Moore, who earned a Doctor of Education degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies. -
ABC to air segment involving EKU fire and safety program
Eastern Kentucky University’s Fire and Safety Engineering Technology Program will be in the national spotlight during a segment tentatively set to air on ABC-TV’s “20/20” on Friday at 10 p.m.
A crew from the news magazine program was on the EKU campus recently in preparation for a segment on cases where people claim to have been charged or convicted of arson on the basis of what some experts call junk science.
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Commencement to recognize 2,124 EKU degree candidates
Spring Commencement ceremonies at Eastern Kentucky University on Saturday will recognize 2,124 degree candidates, including the first from the University’s inaugural doctoral degree program (see related story).
Because the university no longer conducts summer commencement, this year’s Spring Commencement will feature three separate ceremonies. The first ceremony, at 9:30 a.m., will recognize degree candidates in the Colleges of Business & Technology and Education. The second ceremony, at 1:30 p.m., will recognize degree candidates in the Colleges of Health Sciences and Justice & Safety. The day’s final ceremony, at 5 p.m., will honor candidates in the College of Arts & Sciences. All ceremonies are in Alumni Coliseum. - More EKU News Headlines
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EKU students, faculty to make presentation at UN event
