Meadows 2050 Council

Alumni and Career Success

Comprised of approximately twenty-five graduates of the past two decades, the Meadows 2050 Council serves as the primary alumni advisory group for the dean of the SMU Meadows School of the Arts. The Council informs the future vision, strategic planning, and decision-making related to alumni engagement and career development opportunities, while defining and implementing action items in support of these initiatives.

Requirements of Membership

To be eligible for service, candidates must be degreed graduate or undergraduate alumni of SMU who graduated within the prior two decades. Members are asked to make every effort to attend at least one of two Council meetings per year, which are presented virtually via Zoom. Members serve a two-year term with an option to renew service for a third year.

Interested in Council Service?

Council members are appointed by the dean of the Meadows School of the Arts. Interested candidates who meet the criteria above are encouraged to submit this form. Questions? Contact meadowsalumni@smu.edu.

2024 – 25 Meadows 2050 Council Members

Saniha Aziz ’19, ’22

B.A., Journalism, B.B.A., Finance, &
M.S., Applied Economics & Predictive Analytics
Executive Communications Advisor
Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas
Dallas, Texas

Charles Beavers ’17

Master of Arts in International Arts Management (MMIAM)
Major Gifts Officer, Texas Ballet Theatre
Fort Worth, Texas

Willow Blythe-Carroll ’13

B.A., Journalism
Founder and CEO, Weaving Wisdom
Rockwall, Texas

Mychael G. Chinn ’07

B.F.A., Theatre
Vice President of Development, Artist Collective Entertainment
Los Angeles, California

Jordan Chlapecka ’11

B.A., Advertising & B.A., Anthropology
Creative Director, Momentum Worldwide
New York, New York

Shauna Davis ’15

B.F.A., Dance Performance with minor in Business
Dancer & Choreographer
Los Angeles, California

Jer'Lisa J. Devezin ’19

M.F.A., Art
Assistant Professor of Studio Art (Sculpture and Material Studies), Tulane University
New Orleans, Louisiana

Thane Economou ’10

Council Chair
B.A., Cinema-Television & B.B.A.
Writer & Director
Culver City, California

Tania Glick ’19

M.A., Design & Innovation
Sr. Innovation Designer, Southwest Airlines
Dallas, Texas

Nicolás González ’16

B.F.A., Art with minor in Art History
Muralist
Dallas, Texas

Kayla G. Griffis ’20, ’21

B.A., Advertising with minors in Graphic Design & Spanish & M.A., Advertising
Senior Strategist, Saatchi & Saatchi
Frisco, Texas

John Holiday ’07

B.M., Voice Performance
Countertenor & Singing Artist
Professor of Voice, Lawrence University Conservatory of Music
Appleton, Wisconsin

James R. Jillson ’13, ’15

B.A., Music with minors in Arts Management & Arts Entrepreneurship & M.A./M.B.A.
Adjunct Lecturer, Meadows Arts Management & Arts Entrepreneurship
Director of Analytics, Dallas Symphony Orchestra
Dallas, Texas

Samantha M. Klassen ’18

B.A., Fashion Media & Journalism with minor in Graphic Design
Senior Assistant Buyer, Bloomingdale's
New York, New York

Mark A. Lau ’06

B.A., Advertising & B.B.A., Marketing
Global Director, EKIN & Heritage, Nike, Inc.
Lake Oswego, Oregon

Adrienne Lichliter-Hines ’09, ’10

B.A., Art History with minor in French & B.A, Studio Art
Manager of Communications & International Projects, Nasher Sculpture Center
President, Advisory Board, Corsicana Artist & Writers Residency
Dallas, Texas

Deepa K. Liegel ’17

B.F.A., Dance Performance with minor in Arts Management
Company Member, Limón Dance Company
New York, New York
(photo credit: Pete Saloutos)

Emily Walsh Potts ’15

B.A., Public Relations & Strategic Communication
with minors in English and Spanish
Manager, HR Communications, Children's Health
President, SMU CCPA Alumni Council
Dallas, Texas

Caitlin Rain ’12

M.F.A., Theatre
Costume Designer & Illustrator
Brooklyn, New York

Adam N. Salas ’18

M.M., Piano Performance & Pedagogy
Adjunct Lecturer, Class Piano, Piano Preparatory Department, SMU Meadows Division of Music
Dallas, Texas

Gloria Salinas ’10

B.A., Journalism with minors in American Politics, Law and Administration, & Spanish
Vice President, Frisco Economic Development Corporation
Dallas, Texas

Olivia A. Smith ’11

B.F.A., Studio Art with minors in Art History & English
Co-founder & Director, Magenta Plains Gallery
New York, New York

Kristin J. Stubblefield ’19

B.M., Music Education & Candidate for M.M., Music Education
Music Specialist, South Euless Elementary, Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD
Bedford, Texas

Emely G. Villeda-Principe ’17

B.A., Computer Science & B.A., Creative Computing with minor in Art
Software Engineer, AT&T
Garland, Texas

Claudia E. Zapata ’22

Ph.D., Art History
Associate Curator of Latino Art, Blanton Museum
Austin, Texas

Not Pictured

Janine N. Beckles ’04

B.A., Dance Performance & B.A., Sociology
Principal Dancer/Assistant to Artistic Director, Philadanco
Adjunct Professor of Dance, Rowan University
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania