Debra Moddelmog, dean of the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Nevada, Reno
Can you talk about what educating students in a constant state of ambiguity looks like at the University of Nevada, Reno, from your perspective?
We've had centuries to think about how to build a functioning, effective university. Most of us who have built our careers as instructors or faculty have had a long time to think about how to teach effectively and reach all of our students. We're kind of having to reinvent a lot of that right now and in a very short time. I think there are some growing pains on both sides, but we are also developing new and creative ways to teach, which will likely affect what higher education looks like long after this pandemic is under control.What are the different ways that classes are being taught?
The School of the Arts Church Fine Arts Building at the University of Nevada, Reno.
How do you teach visual and performing arts in a time like this?
This is a very critical time for the arts. It's not just at the University of Nevada, Reno—it's everywhere. There's a legitimate fear that we will lose artists and venues, and that it will be tough for the arts to come back in the way that we're used to them. There's a cascading effect of the impact of the loss of the arts on the local community and the national and global community. What's unique about the University of Nevada, Reno’s teachers and professors is that they’re not only artists, musicians, actors, dancers, and directors themselves, but they also train the next generation of musicians, artists, performers, and actors. Everybody is trying to think creatively about how we do the arts differently in a time when we can’t be in intimate spaces or assemble large audiences. We will have our very popular performing arts series this year, but we're going to have it virtually rather than in person. We're trying to figure out how we stay creative at this time and contribute to maintaining a local arts and culture scene since the arts not only entertain but also give us meaning and understanding, including in regard to our current changes and challenges. So, we're seeing our faculty and students do some very creative things right now, for example staging performances outdoors and transforming our annual fall dance festival into a digital format.What's the best way to support the University of Nevada, Reno’s College of Liberal Arts and its students, faculty, and staff through this challenging time?
David R. Harper's "My Own Personal Ghost" is on exhibit at The Lilley Museum of Art at the University of Nevada, Reno through December 19, 2020.
What would you say to someone who says, "Oh, who cares if people dance ballet? We have a global pandemic to cure!"
That perspective undervalues the research that we do and the contribution of the arts, humanities, and social sciences to our society. In our college, faculty are exploring vital subjects such as the effects of the pandemic on human behavior, how to address social and racial injustices, how to cope with water scarcity in the West, and the ethics of genetic modification. We need people who think creatively and are problem solvers. Our faculty not only excel at teaching these habits of mind but they exhibit them in the research they do and their work with our communities.To learn more about the University of Nevada, Reno’s College of Liberal Arts, visit unr.edu/liberal-arts. For more information and to donate to Arts Forward, visit unr.scalefunder.com/cfund/project/21822.
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