UWM instructor and filmmaker inspires the next generation of artists
Marquise Mays’ films portray the lives of Black Americans in the Midwest. As an assistant professor at UWM, he helps mentor budding filmmakers.
Faculty Stories
UWM playwright inspires the next generation of storytellers
Growing up Latino in Texas during the 1970s and ’80s, Alvaro Saar Rios, now an associate professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, didn’t experience many stories with characters who looked like him. Today, Rios shares elements of the Latino experience as a playwright and head of the Theatre Practices program at UWM’s Peck School of the Arts. Rios is one of the most produced Latino playwrights for young audiences, and his works have been performed in theaters across the country.
Several feature films and shorts by Peck School alumni and faculty will screen at 2026 Milwaukee Film Festival
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.
Film professor awarded Milwaukee’s BE Legacy of Excellence Award
Marquise Mays has been awarded the BE Legacy of Excellence Award in the arts category. The award, now in its 41st year, honors Black Milwaukeeans who serve their community. Award categories include arts, community service, business, culture, religion, health, and …
Adam Hawk blends tradition and contemporary blacksmithing through sustained support and research
For Adam Hawk, contemporary blacksmithing is not a departure from tradition but a continuation of it. Moving back and forth between digital and analog, he strikes a balance where craft is expanded through new tools, sustained by material knowledge, and grounded in process.
Dance faculty premiere new works in Winterdances: Resilence
Winterdances: Resilience is faculty concert featuring the original choreography by dance department faculty members Ishmael Konney, Dawn Springer, and Mair Culbreth, as well as guest artist David Roussève. Winterdances: Resilience presents dance works that uplift the human connection through storytelling, …
Artist and engineer Stern’s new exhibit examines intersection of art and technology
What happens when artists create with artificial intelligence while also interrogating it? A new Milwaukee exhibit explores that question through sculptures, prints, interactive pieces and poetry, all born from creative collaboration with AI. Nathaniel Stern teamed up with Sasha Stiles, …
Portia Cobb deepens artistic practice and international collaborations during sabbatical in Brazil
Professor Portia Cobb launched her fall sabbatical with a month-long residency in Bahia, Brazil. The experience expanded her research, deepened her multidisciplinary practice, and strengthened her ties to a growing network of international artists and scholars. Cobb was invited to Balaio Fantasma, an artists’ residency hosted …
UWM receives $100,000 NEA grant to continue autism-focused creativity research
The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee has been awarded a $100,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to continue its pioneering research into the benefits of creativity-based programming for autistic individuals. This latest award supports the next phase of the …
Peck School of the Arts faculty member named 2025 Cunningham Commission Winner
Peck School of the Arts theatre faculty member Alvaro Saar Rios (Associate Professor, Theatre) has been awarded the 2025 Cunningham Commission for Youth Theatre by The Theatre School at DePaul University. Rios, a Texican playwright based in Chicago, has had …
Guitar program Area Head honored with Distinguished Professor title
Professor and performing artist Rene Izquierdo (Area Head, Guitar) has been honored with the title Distinguished Professor for his outstanding work in the Department of Music. Fewer than 60 professors throughout UW-Milwaukee’s history have received the title, and he is …
Film professor Joel Benjamin achieves great success with first VR film
As virtual reality technology continues to become more prevalent, so does the practice of using VR to make short and feature films. Recently, Joel Benjamin (Assistant Professor, Film, Video, Animation and New Genres) made his first foray into VR filmmaking with …
Two PSOA faculty expand work thanks to UWM CLACS fellowships
The UWM Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies (CLACS) awarded fellowships to two PSOA faculty members for the 2024-25 academic year. Simone Ferro (Professor Emerita, Dance) and Dr. Alex Wier (Assistant Professor and Area Head, Percussion) both received fellowships that helped …
Theater faculty Robin Mello joins UK-based education group
Robin Mello (Professor, Theatre) recently partnered with Innoplay Studio, housed at the University of Exeter, in the UK. This program is focused on creating playful and story-rich classrooms to drive innovation. This new role will allow Mello to engage as …
Musical theatre head Sheri Pannell awarded with Black Excellence Award
In February, Sheri Pannell (Associate Professor, Theatre: Area Head, Musical Theatre) received a Black Excellence Award in their “Women in Music” category, being recognized for her decades of contributions to the musical theater community.