If you asked Paul Zinnes in 1977 what he wanted to do when he grew up, he probably would have told you, “I want to make Star Wars.” At age 11, that sounded like a pretty cool job after seeing the blockbuster movie in theaters, but what did that mean, and how do you get involved in something like that?
From section leader of the Marching Illini drumline to vocal music director for Sesame Street, Paul Rudolph (BS ’89 Music Education) has taken some unexpected yet impactful detours along his career journey.
Jami Becker (MArch ‘95, BS ’90 GIES) was on the original design team for the first The Sims computer game that launched in 2000 and quickly became one of the top selling video games in history, setting a new precedent for design and game behavior in the early 21st century. The artwork for that game, in all its pixelated glory, is now in the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
Jamie Hillman is the third Illinois School of Music alum to be appointed to the prestigious Elmer Iseler Chair, succeeding Hilary Apfelstadt (MS, Music Education ‘75) and Doreen Rao (BME ‘69).
Rita Bass returned to the School of Art and Design at the University of Illinois more than 50 years after initially beginning her education. Now she’s paving the way for other non-traditional students with the establishment of a new scholarship.
Alumnus and longtime friend and donor of the department Jim Martin hopes the scholarship will benefit students who have a strong interest and passion for the field of landscape design.
The RATIO Design Prize was established through the generosity of Architecture alumnus William (Bill) Browne, Jr., FAIA (BS ’77). Browne is the chief executive officer and founding principal architect for RATIO Architects LLC headquartered in Indianapolis, IN.
Krannert Art Museum mourned the passing of alumna Louise Fishman, an artist whose unwavering commitments to both abstraction and feminism will continue to thrive through her work.
Each year the College of Fine and Applied Arts honors both past legacies and emerging voices in the arts by recognizing our alumni and friends who have impacted their fields in transformative ways.
The College of Fine and Applied Arts boasts over 35,000 living alumni. Every day our graduates advance the design, visual, performing, and environmental arts as problem solvers and explorers. We’ve showcased a few this year for their notable accomplishments.
Our alumni are giving back in unique and impactful ways. At FAA, donors can choose and craft giving plans based on what means the most to them. Together we are building an equitable and more preferable future for all.
