Holly Williams Appointed Interim Chair Of Department of Theatre and Dance

March 27, 2009

AUSTIN, Texas — Holly Williams, associate professor and senior associate chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance at The University of Texas at Austin, has been appointed interim chair of the department, effective June 1.

Williams succeeds Bob Schmidt, chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance, who is stepping down after serving as both interim and chair of the department since 2006, and senior associate chair from 1996-2006.

"The college is indebted to Bob Schmidt for more than a decade of steadfast administrative leadership to the Department of Theatre and Dance," said College of Fine Arts Dean Douglas Dempster. "And we're truly fortunate to have an equally capable and determined interim chair in Professor Holly Williams."

As a dancer, Williams performed nationally and internationally with the companies of Mark Morris, Laura Dean and Jose Limon. Her choreography has been staged for companies across the United States, and her work for the Houston Grand Opera, Dallas Opera, Austin Lyric Opera and Dallas Theatre Center has won national acclaim.

As a writer and critic, she has contributed to The New York Times, Dallas Morning News and Austin American-Statesman among other publications. She is president elect of the American College Dance Festival Association and the Council of Dance Administrators, and has been on dance panels for the National Endowment for the Arts, Dance/USA and the Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation.

"The students of the Department of Theatre and Dance are exceptional young artists and the faculty are truly inspirational," said Williams. "I am honored to serve them all and move forward the goals of our programs."

Williams earned her bachelor of arts degree from Barnard College at Columbia University, and her master of fine arts degree from Texas Woman's University, from which she also received the 2001 Distinguished Alumnae Award in dance. In addition to her dance administration duties directing the university's master of fine arts dance program, Williams continues to choreograph for dance companies throughout the United States and abroad. In 2008 she was named to the Fulbright Senior Specialist roster in dance. She has been on faculty in the Department of Theatre and Dance since 1995.

For more information, contact: Leslie Lyon, College of Fine Arts, 512 475 7033;  Amanda Flores, Department of Theatre and Dance, College of Fine Arts, 512-232-5337.