Classical guitarist Leonela Alejandro is likely the program’s first alum to perform solo at the legendary venue, part of a tour launched after she won the 2024 Guitar Foundation of America competition.
The campus culture that UWM fosters leaves a lasting impression on students, so much so that many graduates may not want to leave. For alum Elora Hennessey (BFA 2017, Art), she didn’t need to. Hennessey has been a Staff Photographer for UWM’s Division of Marketing, Communications, and University Relations (MarComm) since graduating. Hennessey began working for UWM in 2016 as a student intern for MarComm. She was recommended by Joseph Mougel (Associate Professor and Area Head, Photography & Imaging), who helped her apply for the internship and eventual full-time role.
Springdances: We Also Bloom features new works by faculty choreographers Daniel Burkholder, Tiffany Kadani, Dan Schuchart, and Christal Wanger, alongside guest artist Karlies Kelley. Notably, all of this year’s choreographers—faculty and guest alike—are alumni of UWM, bringing a shared lineage of training to the stage. Ahead of performances, Kelley reflects on returning to her alma mater, collaborating with students, and shaping new work within a community that continues to influence her practice.
As one of the nation’s largest film festivals, cinephiles from all over are flocking to the 2026 Milwaukee Film Festival screenings and events. With a long history of talent emerging from the Department of Film, Video, Animation & New Genres, filmmakers with strong ties to the Peck School of the Arts are well represented in this year’s festival lineup.
As a child growing up in Wisconsin, Steve Teeple was drawn to fantasy worlds. Books, films, and comics filled with mysticism, science fiction, and manga sparked an early fascination that would later shape his creative career. Today, the UWM alum, known professionally as Teeps, is a Los Angeles-based digital artist working across the realm of 3D art. His practice spans character development, digital sculpting, concept art, illustration, art direction, production modeling and texturing, and 3D printing.
Kathryn Henry (BFA 2016, Music) received the Graduate of the Last Decade (GOLD) Award presented by the UWM Alumni Association at the 2026 Alumni Awards Evening. The awards recognize remarkable standouts who make new waves in the lives of countless people every day.
Over the past 40 years, UW-Milwaukee alumni Mike Martino, Mike Sponholtz and Tom Queoff have carved blocks of snow into everything from mythical beasts to Mount Rushmore. As the members of Team USA, they’ve won awards worldwide, using their fine …
PSOA alum Evelyn Patricia Terry and lecturer and alum Yinan Wang were named among five recipients of the 2026 Mary L. Nohl Fellowship for Individual Artists. Terry was selected in the Established Artist category, and Wang was selected in the Emerging Artist category. FVANG Associate Professor Mike Gibisser was also named a finalist in the Emerging Artist category.
As a kid growing up in southern California, Pavonis Giron dreamed of being an illustrator for the likes of Pixar and Nickelodeon. “I was trying to put together the skills I needed to work at those studios one day… drawing …
Recent classical guitar alums Kevin Loh ‘25 and Chandler Dillingham ‘25 have taken the next steps in their careers by returning to teach at their alma mater. Loh and Dillingham both discovered a passion for music education while studying under …
The job of stage manager is considered one of the most challenging roles in theater. Lillian Hayward, a theatre production major with an emphasis in stage management, knows this well. From running rehearsals to facilitating communication between the director and the actors, Hayward has to do a little bit of everything as a stage manager.
Mike Driscoll, a Peck School of the Arts alum and teacher at Bay View High School, has been named one of five national recipients of the 2025 Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence. The award includes $100,000 to support Driscoll’s continued impact on students through hands-on learning and skilled trades education.
Between costumes and candy, many celebrate the Halloween season by watching horror movies. Throughout the years, many students’ senior thesis films have had spooky undertones, making them perfect to rewatch this time of year. Kelly Kirshtner (Associate Professor, Film) and …
UWM alum and popular street artist Jeremy Novy (BFA 2008, Art: Photography) returned to Milwaukee as the artist selected to design and paint rainbow crosswalks in Walker’s Point, honoring the neighborhood’s historical significance to the queer community. Novy’s design also …
Geo Rutherford (MFA 2021, Art) is an artist, author, and TikTok creator with more than 1.8 million followers. She’s best known for her viral series Spooky Lake Month and for using her platform to share stories about the Great Lakes …
