Appalachian State University announced today that, after a national search, it has selected Keith T. Martin of Richmond, Va., to join its faculty in a newly created position as the John M. Blackburn Distinguished Professor of Theatre.
Martin has a BFA and MFA in communications and theater from UNC Greensboro.
“We are very pleased to have Mr. Martin join our faculty,” said Professor Marianne Adams, chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance. “The search committee was fortunate to find someone with his unique skill set: a national reputation in arts management and producing on the professional level, along with experience in musical theatre and arts education. Our students, faculty, and programs will benefit from Keith’s varied experience and the multitude of contacts that he brings to Appalachian.”
Dr. Glenda Treadaway, dean of the College of Fine and Applied Arts, said, “Keith Martin is a dynamic personality who will bring a new energy to the department. He will offer a new perspective and real-world skills to the program, which will help our students be even better prepared for their careers.”
Martin, managing director of Richmond Ballet since 2005, has a 35-year career in the not-for-profit sector that includes producing, artistic direction, choreography and management in professional theatre, dance, opera, symphony, film and television, for which he received an Emmy® award in 2010.
His credits number more than 400 stage productions. Previously, Martin has held the positions of producer/managing director of Charlotte Repertory Theatre, registered lobbyist/legislative strategist for Arts North Carolina and visiting professor at Davidson College.
The endowed professorship is named in honor of John M. Blackburn, former chairman of Appalachian State University’s Board of Trustees and current member of the University of North Carolina Board of Governors. The tenured professorship is funded by private gifts and state funding, along with a grant from the C. D. Spangler Foundation intended to attract and retain exceptional faculty in the UNC system’s 17 member institutions.
A Hickory native whose family’s ties to the area date back to the early 1700s, Martin and his wife, costume designer Rebecca Cairns, will relocate to the Boone area this summer. “I couldn’t be more pleased to return home to North Carolina and am honored to join the Appalachian family,” Martin said. “Having served on the university’s Theatre and Dance Advisory Committee for more than a decade, I know firsthand about the caliber of faculty and students, as well as the strength of their exceptional programs.”
In Virginia, Martin founded and chaired the Resident Company Association of Richmond CenterStage and the Landmark Theatre. He conceived, produced and directed the Grand Opening Gala at CenterStage, utilizing 225 artists from all nine producing resident companies.
Martin chaired the Steering Committee for MINDS WIDE OPEN: Virginia Celebrates Women in the Arts, a statewide cultural initiative consisting of 10,123 performances from March through June 2010, for which he and a colleague received a Richmond History Makers Award in the category of “Encouraging Regional Collaboration.”
Currently, Martin serves on the executive committee and board of CultureWorks, the regional arts council in Central Virginia.
Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, Appalachian State University offers a challenging academic environment, energetic campus life and breathtaking location. Appalachian combines the best attributes of a small liberal arts college with those of a large research university. Known for its value and affordability, Appalachian enrolls about 17,000 students and offers more than 140 undergraduate and graduate majors. Small classes and close interactions between faculty and students create a strong sense of community, which has become an Appalachian hallmark. Appalachian, located in Boone, N.C., is one of 16 universities in the University of North Carolina system.
Appalachian’s College of Fine and Applied Arts is a dynamic and innovative group of academic departments including art, communication, military science and leadership, technology, and theatre and dance. The College of Fine and Applied Arts is characterized by the educational approach of integrating theory and practice, offering students the knowledge and experience for continued education or employment. Programs within the college feature opportunities for hands-on experiential learning, international experiences, and interdisciplinary engagement. The college emphasizes undergraduate teaching, while being active in grants and sponsored research. The College of Fine and Applied Arts provides a vibrant educational atmosphere, fostering the very best in teaching and learning.
ASU could not have found a better person for this position. Keith will say he is lucky & feels blessed to be back. However, we are the lucky ones!!! Welcome home Keith!!!
Posted by: Jay Lesemann | 07/20/2011 at 07:14 PM