On Jan. 19, the Department of Communication, Media, and the Arts hosted Improv Jam 14 and a reception to support the Mark Duncan Endowment for the Arts.
Dan Gelbmann, associate professor, looks over the buffet at the reception.
Shanti Bruce, chair of DCMA, looks forward to seeing how the endowment evolves.
“I appreciate how many faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends of the NSU community came together to support the Mark Lindsay Duncan Legacy Endowment for the Arts, which is designed to provide professional development opportunities for NSU students,” Bruce said.
The reception had a silent auction featuring the talents of DCMA faculty, including a vocal lesson with Professor Bill Adams, original art by
Angelica Zadak starts the next game of Impov Jam 14 where the audience interacts with Giavanna Gun, sophomore accounting major, and Ashley Goehmann, sophomore majoring in communication and theatre.
Associate Professor Kandy Lopez, pottery and drawing lessons and original art by Theatre Technical Director Pablo “Tony” Alvarez, piano lesson with Adjunct Professor JihongPark, original composition and music lesson by Assistant Professor Bill Withem, live drawing and hologram sculptures by Assistant Professor Kolos Schumy, and dance lessons by Adjunct Professor Alonzo Williams.
Many DCMA alumni attended. They also contributed items to the auction in support of the endowment, including original art, gift baskets and ghost tours.
The Mark Lindsay Duncan Legacy Endowment for the Arts was started in 2023 to honor the late NSU theatre professor who founded the undergraduate academic arts programs: art + design, dance, music and theatre.
Duncan’s mother, Wanda Rivadeneira, who attended the event said, “It’s very special. I think Mark would be so touched. He would never in a million years imagine that an endowment would be in his name,” Rivadeneira said. “He worked really hard for this program, and it was his passion. Because of that, it was my passion.”
Carey Courson, DCMA administrative coordinator, was part of the team that organized the reception.
“This was a wonderful event to honor a wonderful man,” Courson said. “The money from the auction tonight goes directly to the Mark Lindsay Duncan Endowment. That goes to the students directly.”
The cast of Improv Jam introduces themselves during the opening of the show.
With the money donated to the endowment, students in the arts programs will be given the chance to attend national conferences and meet other artists in the field.
Nelson Bass, assistant professor in the Department of Humanities and Politics, was also at the reception. Bass was happy to see the students and faculty Duncan impacted.
“I think it is an amazing way to remember a colleague who was so dedicated to his students. And I’m just thrilled to see such a great turnout to honor his legacy,” Bass said.
After the reception, Stage 2 Productions held the 14th annual Improv Jam, where students improvised acting scenes based on suggestions from the audience.
The Improv Jam was hosted and directed by sisters Alex and Angelica Zadak, NSU alumni.
“Mark really cared about all his students,” Angelica Zadak said. “We all felt like a family and it was definitely because of the faculty here and Mark Duncan.”
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