GREENEVILLE – Donors learned about the positive impact of a Tusculum University education, the strength of the institution’s arts programs and possibilities to become even more robust during a festive gala held recently on campus.
Rouja Green addresses the audience.
Central Ballet conducts a short performance at the gala.
The 2nd Center for the Arts Gala, held Tuesday, Nov. 12, brought donors to Tusculum’s arts programs face-to-face with those who have directly benefited from this philanthropy. Through beneficial presentations, prepared by the various arts programs, guests at the gala learned about the important role the Center for the Arts plays in enriching personal lives and contributing to a greater quality of life in the community. The Center for the Arts is an umbrella for all arts programming at the university.
Attendees also enjoyed an enchanting short performance by Central Ballet and were able to purchase beautiful works of art, all in an elegant setting.
“We were thrilled to invite our donors to the event and share all of the exciting developments and the impact Tusculum’s arts programs have on our students and the community,” said Rouja Green, director of the Center for the Arts, who created the gala and oversees it. “We enjoy connecting regularly with the community through our events and spreading the joy that the arts bring to all who encounter it. The community’s investment in our students and our arts programs makes a profound impact, and we welcome the opportunity to continue fostering those relationships.”
Success stories from recent graduates
One of the key ways for donors to understand the impact of the Center for the Arts is through the testimony of former students who have graduated and are using their degrees in their jobs. Alumnae Gwen Gustafson, Patience Salisbury and Gracie Weems told their stories at the gala.
Gustafson, who graduated in 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in art and design, with a concentration in visual communication design, said she owes a lot of her achievements to Tusculum because of the way the university prepared her to enter the job field immediately after graduation. She is now a full-time graphic designer at Artistic Printers in Greeneville, where she had previously interned.
“I am very blessed to be able to have a job in the exact field that I studied,” Gustafson said. “I am thankful for Tusculum and how it allowed me to become familiar with this business and get my foot in the door long before I graduated. I am grateful to donors like you who have made the growth of these programs possible. I look forward to seeing the growth of Tusculum continuing.”
Alumna Gwen Gustafson talks about the benefit of attending Tusculum.
Alumna Patience Salisbury discusses how studying at Tusculum helped her land her job.
Alumna Gracie Weems shares her success story.
Salisbury, who graduated from the art and design program in May, is thankful she pursued that degree because it helped her grow as a person and artist. Without that degree, she believes she would not have obtained her job at American Calendar Co. She has since obtained other positions at the company, including as a graphic designer, which will enable her to display the skills she developed at Tusculum.
“Please know that the professional experience I gained at Tusculum was incredibly significant, and I am grateful to say that Tusculum is still making opportunities for me today,” Salisbury said. “I’m so thankful for everything Tusculum’s art department has done for me, and I’m so inspired by the improvements the program continues to make. Thank you all for helping the department grow because I certainly would not be where I am without it.”
Weems obtained her bachelor’s degree in arts outreach administration from Tusculum in 2023 and now serves as box office manager for the Niswonger Performing Arts Center. She called the faculty and staff of the Center for the Arts extraordinary and said they ignited a spark within her.
“The lessons I learned here went far beyond textbooks; they were about cultivating a mindset of possibility and passion,” Weems said. “Tonight, I stand before you, filled with gratitude for everything this program has bestowed upon me. I implore you to truly listen to the stories you will hear tonight. Each one is a testament to the transformative power of believing in yourself and the importance of community support.”
As part of the event, several faculty and staff members as well as students highlighted the success the programs have achieved and detailed their needs for continued success.
Creative writing
Edward Roberts, vice president of institutional advancement, enjoys a photo with guests at the gala.
Kelsey Trom, associate professor of English and the Harriett Reaves Neff ’21 Chair of Fine Arts, touted highly successful alumni such as Justin Phillip Reed, the 2018 winner of the National Book Award for poetry, and Anup Kaphle, whose career has included working at the Washington Post and BuzzFeed. She said today’s students are intricately connected with the publications flowing from the creative writing program, such as The Tusculum Review, the university’s international literary journal.
“Our students witness and take part in everything we do,” Trom said. “Literary journals all bring new writing to the world and foster future writing careers, but we do something else here: We train the next generation of editors, scholars and writers. Our students have the opportunity to work with the best in our field. Our student editors created four unique publications in the past year. No school in the region, and very few in the rest of the country, have undergraduate or graduate students doing this level of publishing work.”
She said the creative writing program would benefit from a new computer, printer and Adobe licensure – a total of about $2,000.
Art and design
Juliana Ailyn Flores Martinez, a senior art and design major, focused on the need for her program to have all of the necessary materials and technology for their studies.
“Your support tonight helps us grow as artists, designers, and people,” Flores said. “It brings us a little closer to having the opportunities to experiment, learn and prepare for careers where we can truly make meaningful contributions. And just as importantly, it shows us that you believe in what we’re trying to achieve—that art and design have a place in the world and are worth investing in. So, thank you not only for your generosity but for being here and believing in what we do.”
Communication and debate
Dr. Kurtis Miller speaks to the audience.
Cheyenne Hewitt, a sophomore communication major, with a theater concentration, represented the debate team and the communication academic program. She said the program offers a strong foundation in effective communication but also provides focus areas in theater and arts outreach administration.
“A communications major at Tusculum offers a comprehensive education in understanding and navigating our complex world of information and human connection,” she said. “What makes this program special is its flexibility. Students can choose a focus that aligns with their passions and career goals. I was raised in theater, so I am hoping to get my degree here and go on to edit and produce scripts, perhaps even for feature films.”
Dr. Kurtis Miller, associate professor of communication and assistant dean of the Humanities Division, said financial backing for entry and costs for travel are items the debate team would welcome. The team has earned multiple awards in competitions in the last two years. Among the skills team participants develop are critical thinking, research and analysis, conflict management, interviewing skills and public speaking.
Music
Tusculum offers classes in music and avenues for them to perform, particularly in the community band. Dr. Miller discussed how Tusculum’s music program leads students to have a fulfilling life that encompasses art, expression and creativity. Needs for that program are replacement music stand racks, professional music holders, university-owned instruments, instrument maintenance and new music.
Theater
Rouja Green, left, presents a benefactor certificate to Marilyn duBrisk, center, and her husband, Wess.
Dr. Scott Hummel, Tusculum’s president, speaks to the audience.
In discussing Tusculum’s theater program, senior Josie Norton described many benefits. She knows because she has been extremely active in Tusculum’s theatrical performances on stage and behind the scenes and with the Tusculum Young Actors Studio in recent years.
“The theater program at Tusculum has given me the opportunity to see theater, to go out and perform theater and to produce theater,” she said. “But most importantly, the theater program has given me the invaluable experience to give back to my community. This program at Tusculum doesn’t just fuel the hearts of a couple of students that come through it but also a community of brilliant actors, designers, electricians and teachers, doctors and many other crucial parts of the society.”
Steve Schultz, director of Tusculum Arts Outreach, shared many elements of his program – the Young Actors Studio, the Costume Shop, “Edgar Allan Poe and Other Stories in the Woods” and other theatrical productions – both on campus and in the community. He said Arts Outreach has started offering adult theater classes and hopes to expand them.
As he asked for additional funds and other support, he provided this nugget: The leading indicator for economic success in small communities is a thriving arts program.
Among the initiatives for Arts Outreach that could utilize more community financial support are an after school arts and arts-related business program for grades 8 and higher; growth in music, visual art and creative writing with students; and reaffirmation of relationships with many community arts programs. Another idea is to explore a Tusculum Junior Choir and Junior Band and help other municipalities in the region grow their theater programs.
Supporting the arts
Dr. Miller, who also serves as executive director of the Center for the Arts, and Dr. Scott Hummel, Tusculum’s president, expressed appreciation for the community’s support of the arts. In closing the event, Dr. Miller encouraged people to donate on a monthly basis to help the university’s budgeting process. He said a solid donation to Tusculum each month is cheaper than what it costs for a Netflix subscription.
“We are delighted to offer many programs for free or very reasonable charges, but the cost to hold these events exceeds that revenue,” Dr. Miller said. “We encourage the community to be a partner and support the Center for the Arts financially so we can continue to make these vibrant programs available.”
To learn more about the Center for the Arts, please visit https://site.tusculum.edu/center-for-the-arts/. People can also email Green at rgreen@tusculum.edu or call 423-636-7300, extension 8326. Donations can be made at https://ssl.charityweb.net/tusculum/. More details about the university are available at www.tusculum.edu.