Congratulations to the College of Arts and Humanities faculty members who retired in the 2020–2021 academic year! We appreciate your years of service to our college and university.
Steven Chicurel-Stein
As interim director of the School of Performing Arts, Steven Chicurel-Stein shined a spotlight on excellence in programming, interdisciplinary experiences, curricular innovation and community connectivity. A trained concert pianist who made his career in musical theatre, he has participated in nearly 100 theatrical productions as musical director, conductor, pianist and vocal arranger. In addition, he has co-authored several books on vocal anatomy and music theory and was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from Estill Voice International in 2013.
Norma Ledesma
Norma Ledesma served as an instructor in the Department of Modern Languages & Literatures for over 15 years. Ledesma is a native speaker of Quechua, and in 2019, she began to teach free weekly classes of the indigenous language spoken by over 10 million people today. “My dream, my hope for a student, if they learn this language, is that they have future opportunities around the world, especially in Latin America,” she said.
Marcella Farina
An assistant professor in the Department of Modern Languages & Literatures since 2013, Marcella Farina specialized in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). Her research focuses included synchronous online language teaching and learning, as well as phonological acquisition and pronunciation teaching and learning.
Dawn Trouard
Professor emerita Dawn Trouard made a mark on students through her work in the Department of English and with the College of Graduate Studies, where she served as an advisor for a number of master’s and Honors in the Major theses.
Cynthia White
An associate lecturer with the School of Performing Arts since 2015, Cynthia White brought her passion for dramatic literature, theatrical traditions and new plays to the forefront of her teaching career. In addition to her work as a lecturer, White is the Director of New Play Development at Orlando Shakes and a freelance editor and writer.