Join us at the museum for the exhibition opening for Reveal and The Shaping of Us. Join community leaders for the panel discussion Gender Identity and Social Constructs. Reception follows. Free to attend.
LSUMOA is please to have a panel of speakers for this reception: Heather Mae Erickson, Greg Williams, Jr., Danielle Simone Boutté, and Shannon Walsh
Heather Mae Erickson, BFA, UArts and MFA, Cranbrook. Heather Mae was a summer resident at the Archie Bray Foundation and was also awarded a Fulbright to study at Aalto University in Helsinki, Finland. She was a resident artist at The Clay Studio from 2006-2009 while teaching at UArts, Rowan, and Arcadia. She has earned numerous awards, including first place for the Horizon Award presented by the Museum of Art and Design in New York. She was awarded an Independence Fellowship for 2009 residency at The International Ceramic Research Center in Denmark. She was the 2009-2012 Robert Turner Teaching Fellow at Alfred University. In 2012 she moved to Colorado where she taught at RMCAD, Red Rocks Community College, Colorado Mountain College-Aspen Campus, and Arapahoe Community College. In 2013-14 she was a visiting teaching artist and sabbatical replacement at CU Boulder. Heather Mae is currently an Associate Professor and Area Coordinator of the Randall and Susan Parrott Ward Endowed Ceramics Studio at Western Carolina University.
Greg Williams, Jr. is an accomplished artist, producer, and advocate who founded and ran the first professional African-American theatre company, New Venture Theatre, for over eighteen seasons, bringing over 70 live productions to Louisiana. He is currently the Director of Arts Programming for BREC and the founding artistic director for Hoodoo House TV, a streaming service that highlights the lives of southern, Black LGBTQ+ individuals. His advocacy and support of the Black Queer Community in Louisiana earned him the honor of having January 14 officially recognized as Greg Williams, Jr. Day.
Danielle Simone Boutté is a versatile community builder & creative marketer, known for her leadership and commitment to mentorship across new & emerging tech industries. With a human-centered approach, she excels in curating experiences that bridge technology and human connection. With over 12 years of experience, she specializes in pioneering global marketing events and community-driven projects across diverse sectors. Danielle's legacy lies in leaving a distinct mark on every role she undertakes. Inspired by her exposure to various industries, she became a force within Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, envisioning modern companies as multicultural hubs. Her work fosters global solidarity through accessible and creative educational platforms.
Shannon Walsh is an Associate Professor of Theatre History and the Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the College of Music and Dramatic Arts and faculty rector for the Visual and Performing Arts Residential College (VPARC) at LSU. She directed LSU Mainstage productions of The Wolves, Anon(ymous), and Our Town. She’s also directed TBR’s productions of 33 Variations and How I Learned to Drive. Her scholarship looks at the parallels between sports and theatre.