Moving Forward with a New Direction
Every area within CFA has experienced positive change — from new leadership, to expanded student-focused programming, to increased awareness of and participation in efforts for shared responsibility for diversity, equity and inclusion. CFA has never been more vibrant or more future-focused.
Letter from Dean Mary Ellen Poole
“This first-ever online-only issue of the CFA Magazine leans hard into the future, a favorite direction here at Carnegie Mellon University. It’s important to give equal weight, however, to the other two states of being — to be fully present in the present, so that we’ll know where and who we are and what we need to do — and to learn from the past with humility and candor.”
Events
[ Architecture Event ]
Materiality
Materials shape the world around us. This series of events examines the tactile, structural and visual qualities of architecture as a built practice. This series is free + open to the public.
[ Art Event ]
Annual Open Studios
December 9
Explore junior, senior and MFA studios throughout the School of Art. The studios will be free + open to the public for one evening only and will also feature an art sale, video screenings and interactive works.
More information will be released closer to the event.
[ Design Event ]
Opening: Joseph Ballay Center for Design Fusion
September 30
Alumni Concert Hall, CFA Building, CMU Campus
Get a first look at the School of Design's new transdisciplinary design center. The new Joseph Ballay Center for Design serves as a center of design expertise and outreach for the CMU community and beyond.
[ Drama Event ]
2022–2023 Drama Season
A reimagined classic, resurrected memories, pubescent competitive dance. Don't miss this semester's fall productions: As You Like It, this old haunt and Dance Nation.
[ Music Event ]
Concerts and Events
Explore and expand your musical palette. With over 100 performances an academic year, you can experience your old favorites — or find new genres to love.
[ Miller ICA Event ]
Dara Birnbaum: Journey Exhibition
August 20 – December 11
Featuring new work commissioned by the Miller Institute for Contemporary Art. This commission is part of the exhibition Dara Birnbaum: Journey, a survey of Dara Birnbaum's influential practice.
[ STUDIO Event ]
Guest Lecture Series
Interdisciplinary performance, choreography, dance. Model, activist, volunteer, musician. Find a Frank-Ratchye STUDIO for Creative Inquiry guest lecture or event that speaks to you.
[Diversity, Equity and Inclusion]
Inclusive Excellence: A Community Responsibility
A goal is a dream with an action plan behind it. In 1996, the goal for researchers Lee and Smith was to identify ways to increase educational achievement. In their study, they measured three constructs of educators’ work...
Alumni News
Find out what alumni are doing across the School of Architecture, School of Art, School of Design, School of Drama, School of Music and BXA Intercollege Degree Programs.
We'd love to hear from you! Keep us up to date on what's happening in your personal and professional life. Fill out our alumni contact form
Looking for a past version?
You can find past digital and print versions of the magazine, starting with our inaugural 2018 CFA 01 magazine in our CFA MAGAZINE ARCHIVE.
Tell us what you think!
Let us know what you hoped to see — and what you liked! Email us at contact-cfa@cmu.edu
College of Fine Arts Magazine
Publisher: Mary Ellen Poole, Dean, CFA
Executive Editor: Pam Wigley
Editor/Digital Content Designer: Alexis Morrell
Art Director: Monica Banaszak
Project Manager: Thomas Swiech
Writers
Jessica Bowser Acrie
Harrison Apple
Margaret Cox
Dan Fernandez
Amanda S.F. Hartle
Joseph Lyons
Meredith Marsh
Jennifer Monahan
M. Stephanie Murray, Ph.D.
Shannon Musgrave
Andy Ptaschinski
Lydia Rosenberg
Emily Syes
Cally Jamis Vennare
Pam Wigley
Design & Production
University Communications and Marketing
Photographers
Margaret Cox
Alisa Innocenti
Kevin Lorenzi
Andrew Ptaschinski
Nate Smallwood
Louis Stein
Pam Wigley
CFA Leadership
CFA Dean: Mary Ellen Poole, Ph.D.
School of Architecture Head: Omar Khan
School of Art Head: Charlie White
School of Design Head: Bruce Hanington
School of Drama Head: Robert Ramirez
School of Music Head: Jonathan Bailey Holland
BXA Senior Associate Dean of Interdisciplinary Initiatives: M. Stephanie Murray, Ph.D.
MAM Program Director: Jessica Bowser Acrie
MEIM Program Director: Daniel Green, Ph.D.
Miller ICA Director: Elizabeth Chodos
Frank-Ratchye STUDIO for Creative Inquiry Director: Nica Ross
