1780 – The Official Blog of Transylvania University

1780 | The Official Blog of Transylvania University

Archives

Accomplished theater professional to join Transylvania faculty in fall

Posted on by John Friedlein

After working for theater programs throughout the country—from the Utah Shakespeare Festival to The Juilliard School in New York City—Micah Daniel Bennett soon will return to the Bluegrass as the newest addition to Transylvania University’s theater program. Bennett, who was raised in central Kentucky and attended Eastern Kentucky University, will begin this fall as instructor of theater/production and technical coordinator. “His dedication to research in sustainable methods to create theater, and his professional work with companies across the country—along with the connections he made with our students during a campus visit—made quite an impression on all of us,” said Tosha Fowler, who joined the department this school year as Lucille C. Little Chair of Theater and program director. “He not only will have a lot to offer our university, but he also will be an important contributor to the professional Lexington theater industry.” Bennett, a technical director and designer finishing his Master of Fine Arts degree at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, also has worked for the Santa Fe Opera; McLeod Summer Playhouse in Illinois; and The Public Theater and Signature Theatre, both in New York City. “With Daniel joining us, the theater program is going to soar to new heights,” Fowler said.

Call of the wild: Transy alum’s passion is no flight of fancy

Posted on by John Friedlein

As nearby turtle tanks burble, Geoff Roberts pulls a coiled corn snake from an aquarium. Even up close, it’s immediately evident the docile creature with beautiful orange markings is nothing to be afraid of. Roberts explains how encounters in controlled settings like this one in the Salato Wildlife Education Center can help people overcome their snake phobias. That isn’t the main reason Roberts, a conservation educator and 2007 Transylvania University grad, shows animals to visitors. It is, however, an example of how his psychology degree still comes in handy. People often are surprised to learn about his undergraduate major, seeing as how he works for the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife. Roberts even once pursued a master’s degree in mental health counseling at Eastern Kentucky University. But that’s not where his lifelong passion lies—he discovered a love for wildlife as a young boy during excursions with his grandfather in the countryside near Elizabethtown, Kentucky. Thing is, during that time at EKU he felt like he’d already invested a lot of time into psychology, so it would have been a waste to not continue along that path. He changed course, though—maybe in part because of his liberal arts background at Transy, which encourages students not to get stuck in mental ruts, and in part because his mom encouraged him to follow his dream. The turning point was when he switched master’s programs to study recreation and park administration. “I knew

Read “Call of the wild: Transy alum’s passion is no flight of fancy”

Student activist learns and leads by example

Posted on by Robin Hicks

Jonathan Neal’s activism as a high school student in Louisville, Kentucky, drew the interest of church and community leaders, television stations, local and national award givers and even a campaign manager who encouraged him to consider a possible run for mayor. Neal had developed a reputation for speaking truth to power and for advocating on behalf of the vulnerable. He remembers being frustrated by politicians who kept prioritizing recycling over neighborhood violence and prison reform. Drawing inspiration from the leadership and service of his parents and pastor, he got involved. He found himself thinking, “If you’re not effectively making purposeful change in your city, someone has to step up and do it.” But before pursuing a career in politics and government service, Neal knew he first needed more education and experience. Drawn to Transylvania’s long history of producing political leaders, he wanted the same “elite education,” he says, that had prepared so many others before him.   As president of Transy’s Black Student Alliance, Neal’s goal is to create a lasting impact. “I’m trying to make BSA and my legacy at Transy about leaving this a better place for future African-American students to come,” he says. It’s a concept he’s embraced from his leadership training at Transy, focusing not on short-term gains, but on “leading to leave a better place.” A sophomore, Neal says he wants to motivate his generation to advocate not just through social media, but in person

Read “Student activist learns and leads by example”