The Florida State University School of Theatre will present “Bring It On: The Musical,” a high-energy production featuring music by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Tom Kitt, beginning Friday, Oct. 16, at the Richard G. Fallon Theatre.

Inspired by the 2000 film “Bring It On,” the musical follows the competitive world of high school cheerleading, exploring friendship, rivalry and the challenges of fitting in through music, dance and athletic stunts.

“Bring It On: The Musical is a funny and exciting cheerleading musical! It’s filled with stunts and spectacle, but also a whole lot of heart,” said director Natalie Wisdom. “It reminds us of the importance of friendship, loyalty and enjoying the journey of life with those you love. High school years are fraught with social anxiety, puberty, cliques, acne and angst. But there is one additional element that heals all of these ailments: friendship.”

The production features a cast of 30, including FSU students McKenna Wallace as Campbell, Onyekachi Anyagaligbo as Danielle, Landen Kol as Randall, Angie Carballo as Eva and Mikayla Martinez-Hobbs as Bridget.

Wisdom directs the production, with scenic design by Jesse Dreikosen, lighting design by Casey Duke, sound design by Alroy Harry and costume design by Kelly Tomlin.

Performances run Oct. 16-25 at the Richard G. Fallon Theatre.

Tickets are available at tickets.theatre.fsu.edu. For more information on the FSU School of Theatre’s 2026-2027 season and academic programs, visit theatre.fsu.edu.

BRING IT ON is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.

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Florida State University’s College of Motion Picture Arts has earned two top-three national rankings, with its undergraduate film program rated No. 1 and its graduate program No. 3 in FilmSchool.org’s inaugural data-driven ranking.

The ranking evaluates film programs using measures including student outcomes, affordability, selectivity, faculty and class size, and student and alumni satisfaction. FSU was the only university with two programs among the top three.

“This recognition reflects what has always been at the heart of our program: giving talented students the training, resources and opportunities they need to become working filmmakers,” said Reb Braddock, dean of the College of Motion Picture Arts. “We are especially proud that this ranking recognizes not only the quality of our programs, but the value we provide our students and the success they achieve after graduation.”

FilmSchool.org evaluated participating programs using data supplied by the schools along with student and alumni reviews.

“This recognition reflects what has always been at the heart of our program: giving talented students the training, resources and opportunities they need to become working filmmakers.”

– Reb Braddock, dean of  FSU’s College of Motion Picture Arts

Programs were scored on a 10-point scale, with student and alumni reviews incorporated into several measures.

FSU’s undergraduate program earned an overall score of 7.781 out of 10 and received the ranking’s highest scores for selectivity and affordability and value. The program has a 6% acceptance rate and a 98% yield, meaning nearly all students offered admission chose to enroll. It also has a 5-to-1 student-faculty ratio and an average class size of 10.

Student outcomes also helped propel FSU to the top. The undergraduate program has a 97% graduation rate, with 92% of graduates employed in film, television or media within 12 months of graduation. FilmSchool.org gave the program an 8.94 out of 10 for student success and career development.

Affordability was another factor in FSU’s strong showing. FilmSchool.org gave the undergraduate program an 8.08 out of 10 for affordability and value, the highest score among the programs ranked. According to data submitted for the ranking, 86% of FSU undergraduate film students receive scholarships, with an average award of $15,000. The college also provides industry-standard equipment for student productions as part of tuition.

FSU’s graduate program earned an overall score of 7.075 out of 10. It reported a 5-to-1 student-faculty ratio, an average class size of six and a faculty that is 100% active in the industry. The program also reported a 90% graduation rate and a 90% employment rate in film, television or media within 12 months of graduation.

The ranking also considered industry accomplishments, including film festival recognition and major awards. FSU students and alumni have amassed 4,000 film festival awards and featured screenings. The 2026 ranking included 17 programs that submitted data to FilmSchool.org and had at least one student or alumni review on the site.

The recognition follows another strong national showing for the College of Motion Picture Arts. Earlier this year, The Hollywood Reporter ranked FSU No. 13 overall and No. 4 among public film schools, marking its seventh consecutive year as the nation’s No. 4 public film school.

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Florida State University School of Dance seniors will share the stage with professional dancers Oct. 6 when Adele Myers and Dancers presents an Opening Nights performance at the Nancy Smith Fichter Dance Theatre.

The program will feature work by FSU School of Dance alumna Myers and dancer and choreographer Cecilia Benitez, with School of Dance seniors performing alongside professional artists.

For senior Madeline Wellman, the opportunity to be on stage with professional dancers is a dream come true.

“I was so excited for this experience and to be able to work with Adele,” Wellman said. “It means the world to me.”

The senior cohort began working with Benitez in late September in preparation for the performance. In just a short time, Benitez said she has been impressed by the students’ curiosity and work ethics.

“The students are incredible. It feels really magical because they’re hungry for knowledge about what the professional field is like,” Benitez said. “They’re extremely hardworking, and I feel like as someone who’s worked with younger generations in dance, you see less and less of that now.”

Benitez is a Miami-based freelance artist who performs with Rosie Herrera Dance Theatre, Adele Myers and Dancers, and Syncopate Collective. She also brings her experience as an educator to her work with the FSU students.

“The way Cecilia conducts herself in the room is really inspirational to me because she is so genuine, silly, fun and warm, but she’s still so professional that you really just want to stay focused,” Wellman said. “Cecilia’s energy and her inviting attitude makes it feel like whatever I do is going to be contributing to the whole group, which is such a unique feeling.”

Collaboration is central to Benitez’s approach. Rather than giving students every movement, she has invited them to help shape the work.

“Cecilia took a poem and we started the first day just improvising with this imagery and creating little phrases for ourselves that she’s utilizing,” Wellman said. “So, there also feels like there’s little pieces of each of us in the work.”

Benitez said that creative freedom can be a new experience for dancers accustomed to following a choreographer’s direction.

“The students are like ‘Wait, I get to choose? or I have the creative agency in that way?’” Benitez said. “Maybe they’ve worked together like that in the past, maybe they haven’t, but I can tell for a lot of them they’re like ‘Can I? Can I?’ I’m like ‘Yes. It ends up being a reflection of the people in the room, not just what I want.”

The experience also gives students a closer look at professional dance careers.

In addition to working with Benitez and Adele Myers and Dancers artist and rehearsal assistant Maria Bunt, the cohort participated in a Q&A with Myers on Sept. 29.

Wellman, who plans to pursue a career in contemporary choreography after graduation, said the experience has helped her build professional relationships.

“I really feel like I could reach out to both Cecilia and Maria to be like ‘Hey, what do you think about this job?’ or ‘Do you know anything about this opportunity?’” Wellman said.

As she looks toward graduation, Wellman said she also wants to make the most of her final year at FSU, including the chance to share the Oct. 6 performance with an audience.

“I think it’s such a beautiful opportunity every time a guest artist comes to perform because you really don’t know the limits of what’s out there until you see,” Wellman said. “My family’s coming, so I’m excited to show them what Cecilia has created with our senior cohort.”

Benitez hopes the audience comes away with an appreciation for the individual dancers and how much they have developed during their time at FSU.

“I want people to experience the individual beauty of each student that’s in the program,” Benitez said. “I want the audience to look at these seniorsand see how much they’ve grown, and while their journey is coming to a close look how much they’ve accomplished in their time here.”

Adele Myers and Dancers perform at the Nancy Smith Fichter Dance Theatre Oct. 6 as part of Opening Nights at Florida State University. Tickets are available through Opening Nights.

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Florida State University’s College of Music has earned national recognition in three areas, with Music School Finder naming FSU a 2027 Standout for Music Education, Music Therapy and Southeast Regional Music.

Music School Finder features a curated selection of 269 U.S. college music programs and helps prospective students and families explore programs based on musical and academic fit. Its 2027 Standouts recognize small groups of programs with particular strengths based on published criteria. The distinctions don’t include numerical rankings, and schools do not pay to be selected.

FSU was one of 10 schools nationwide recognized as a Music Education Standout, one of 11 selected for Music Therapy and one of eight named a Southeast Regional Music Standout.

“These recognitions reflect the breadth of the College of Music and our longstanding commitment to preparing students for meaningful careers in music,” said Greg Jones, associate dean for artistic planning in FSU’s College of Music. “We are especially proud to be recognized for programs that combine rigorous musical training with hands-on experiences that allow our students to make an impact in schools, healthcare settings and communities.”

Preparing the next generation of music educators

Music School Finder recognized FSU’s Music Education program for its longstanding educator preparation, fieldwork opportunities and leadership in training school music educators. The organization also considered the strength of the undergraduate pathway and opportunities for applied learning.

Those qualities have long been central to FSU’s program. Music education students gain hands-on teaching experience at multiple levels while preparing for careers in choral, instrumental and general music education. Graduates of FSU’s bachelor’s program who seek teaching positions have achieved a 100% placement rate for 50 years.

The program combines intensive musical study with coursework and practical teaching experiences designed to prepare graduates for the classroom.

A 70-year tradition in music therapy

FSU’s Music Therapy program was recognized for its clinical preparation, supervised fieldwork, sustained undergraduate program and applied-learning opportunities.

The recognition follows the program’s 70th anniversary in 2025. FSU offers music therapy education from the undergraduate through doctoral levels, with students gaining clinical experience through community-based practica at sites throughout the Tallahassee area. Undergraduate students also complete a six-month, full-time internship.

The program prepares students to use music in settings that include healthcare, mental health, special education, hospice and services for older adults.

A standout in the Southeast

Music School Finder also named FSU among eight Southeast Regional Music Standouts. Programs were selected based on the breadth, quality and distinctiveness of their undergraduate music opportunities, as well as their training models, scale and student experiences.

FSU offers study across a broad range of musical fields, including performance, composition, conducting, music education, music therapy, musicology, jazz, music industry and technology.

Music School Finder highlighted the College of Music’s combination of extensive academic and performance opportunities, faculty mentorship and focus on student success.

The College of Music continues to expand those opportunities. This fall, it launched the Center for Music Leadership and Community Engagement, which prepares students for a range of music careers while expanding partnerships with arts organizations and community partners in Tallahassee and beyond.

The center brings together the college’s Bachelor of Arts in Community Music, Master of Arts in Arts Administration and music entrepreneurship initiatives and serves as a hub for internships, professional development and community engagement.

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Three Florida State University student filmmakers are earning national recognition for their work, with each named a finalist for a 2026 Student Heritage Award from the American Society of Cinematographers.

Juan Martinez, Saron Bahre and Leandro Rutigliano, students in FSU’s College of Motion Picture Arts, are among a select group of emerging cinematographers nominated for the annual awards. Of the 10 nominees in the U.S. undergraduate narrative and documentary categories, three are from FSU.

“To have three of our undergraduate cinematographers nominated for ASC Student Heritage Awards in the same year is really remarkable,” said Keith Slade, FSU filmmaker in residence in cinematography. “The American Society of Cinematographers represents the highest level of our profession, and its membership includes many of the cinematographers whose work has defined the art and craft of filmmaking. For our students to have their work recognized by that community, at this stage in their careers, is incredibly meaningful.”

The nominations also highlight the resources and opportunities FSU provides student filmmakers. The College of Motion Picture Arts is the only motion picture college in the country that pays the production costs of every student’s film, providing students equal access to industry-standard equipment and facilities. FSU also covers entry fees and expenses for finished student work shown at film festivals.

Slade said he has seen firsthand how the students have developed through their time at FSU.

“I’ve watched these students grow as cinematographers and push themselves and their craft, and I couldn’t be prouder of what they’ve accomplished,” he said.

“The constant endorsement from our school and professors mean the world to us. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities and support this program has given to me and my peers’ brave ideas.”

– FSU Leandro Rutigliano, student filmmaker

Martinez is one of six finalists for the George Spiro Dibie, ASC Undergraduate Award for his cinematography on “Tesoro.” The film follows an immigrant boy who spends the Fourth of July at a beach motel while his mother works. When his restlessness leads him to cause trouble, mother and son are forced to confront fears about their future.

“Being nominated for the ASC Heritage Awards is a tremendous honor,” Martinez said. “This recognition is a reflection of the hard work of every crew member who helped bring this project to life from start to finish.”

For Martinez, who is Colombian, the recognition also carries personal significance.

“As a Colombian cinematographer being recognized by the ASC for a Hispanic film, this nomination means the world to me,” he said. “I hope it not only highlights the visual storytelling of the film but also draws attention to the very real social issues it explores. I am incredibly grateful to be part of a project that has the opportunity to spark conversation and represent our community on this stage.”

Bahre and Rutigliano are both finalists for the Haskell Wexler, ASC Documentary Award. Together, the FSU filmmakers account for half of the four finalists in the documentary category.

Bahre was recognized for “Lake of Fire,” which retells through the eyes of the perpetrator the vandalism of an art exhibition celebrating diversity, kindness and inclusion.

For Bahre, an Ethiopian, first-generation filmmaker, the subject had a personal resonance.

“Through my cinematography, I hope audiences are able to reflect on the importance of not silencing art, artists and diverse voices,” Bahre said.“I am incredibly grateful to be part of a project that has the opportunity to honor the artist and encourage meaningful conversations about the importance of allowing different voices and perspectives to exist freely.”

Bahre also credited the College of Motion Picture Arts with providing the resources and collaborative environment that helped make the film possible.

“Having access to the equipment and resources we needed, as well as the opportunity to collaborate with incredible filmmakers I am lucky to call my friends, made this experience incredibly meaningful,” she said. “I am deeply grateful for the community, support and opportunities this program has given me to grow as a filmmaker.”

Rutigliano was nominated for “House of Light,” which explores a Greek Orthodox monastery in the hills of Texas that provides a place of peace for the monks who live there and those who seek it.

Rutigliano said the monks and their stories helped shape his visual approach to the film.

“Hearing the perspectives of these monks inspired many elements of the cinematography, hoping to encapsulate the pure feeling of home, peace, and light they provided us with,” he said. “Through the many dark times that the outside world can undergo, it is places like this that prove to us there’s always some sort of lighthouse calling us in to land ashore.”

Rutigliano also pointed to the resources, faculty support and collaboration he found at FSU.

“Thanks to the support of FSU’s College of Motion Picture Arts, our crew was granted access to the knowledge and equipment that made it possible to bring this idea to life,” he said. “The constant endorsement from our school and professors mean the world to us. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities and support this program has given to me and my peers’ brave ideas.”

The three nominations continue a history of FSU filmmakers earning recognition from the American Society of Cinematographers. In 2019, FSU student Jazleana Jones won the Haskell Wexler Student Documentary Award for “King, Charles.” In 2025, FSU graduate Max Losson was a finalist for the George Spiro Dibie, ASC Undergraduate Award for his cinematography on the FSU capstone film “Photo Play XX.”

The American Society of Cinematographers created the Student Heritage Awards to recognize emerging cinematographers and support them as they begin their careers. Colleges and universities may submit up to three qualified students per category, and winners are selected by a jury of ASC members.

Now in their 27th year, the awards honor ASC members whose contributions helped shape the art of cinematography. This year’s nominees represent film programs including FSU, the University of Southern California, UCLA, the American Film Institute, Chapman University, Pratt Institute and the School of Visual Arts.

Winners of the 2026 ASC Student Heritage Awards will be announced Oct. 4.

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Florida State University’s College of Music has launched a new interactive webpage showcasing the global reach of its students and faculty. 

The webpage uses an interactive map to highlight College of Music activities around the world and illustrate how international experiences are shaping teaching, research and performance at FSU. 

Sarah Eyerly, associate dean for research and faculty development, and Greg Jones, associate dean for artistic planning, led the creation of the webpage in collaboration with Jeremy Katz, a research impact librarian, and Krista Rockne, research impact assistant with FSU Libraries.

This project is part of a broader initiative by FSU Libraries to partner with academic departments across campus. By providing advanced digital scholarship, spatial mapping, and data infrastructure support, the library helps faculty showcase research impact and community engagement that traditional metrics often overlook.

“As part of the college’s strategic vision, one of our key focus areas is ‘Connecting with Local and Global Communities,’” said Todd Queen, dean of the FSU College of Music. “The FSU College of Music is a global leader in music education, and this mapping project vividly demonstrates the extraordinary reach and impact of our faculty and students as they connect with communities around the world through music.” 

“The FSU College of Music is a global leader in music education, and this mapping project vividly demonstrates the extraordinary reach and impact of our faculty and students as they connect with communities around the world through music.”

– College of Music Dean Todd Queen

This spring, College of Music leaders visited universities and arts organizations in Thailand and Singapore to explore potential partnerships. The delegation included Queen along with Liz Avery, associate dean for academic affairs, and Lori Gooding, director of the college’s Music Therapy Program. 

In Thailand, the delegation traveled to Salaya to meet with representatives at Mahidol University’s College of Music and discuss opportunities for faculty, research and collaborations. 

In Singapore, the delegation met with representatives from the LASALLE College of the Arts, a globally ranked institution for performing arts education that serves as a constituent college of the University of the Arts Singapore. The connection to LASALLE was made through Indra Selvarajah, an FSU alumna who earned her Ph.D. in Music Education/Music Therapy from the College of Music in 2013. Selvarajah leads LASALLE’s master’s program in Music Therapy.  

The group also met with representatives from SEADOM, a Southeast Asia cultural and educational network that includes 70 member institutions in 10 countries, to explore opportunities for collaboration. They also attended the organization’s annual conference to connect with other regional leaders. 

FSU College of Music students are building international connections of their own. Phee Phupaibul, a student from Thailand pursuing a Doctor of Music in guitar performance, planned and organized a trip for FSU students to attend the Mahidol International Classical Guitar Forum in June at Mahidol University’s College of Music in Salaya, Thailand.  

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From Shakespeare to Broadway musicals, Florida State University’s School of Theatre will bring a wide range of stories to the stage during its 2026-27 season. Tickets are now on sale. 

The five-production season features three musicals and two plays performed by FSU students, beginning Oct. 16 with “Bring It On: The Musical,” a production inspired by the cult classic film. The show features music by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Tom Kitt. Performances run through Sunday, Oct. 25, at the Richard G. Fallon Theatre. 

Friday, Nov. 6, through Sunday, Nov. 15, the Lab Theatre will host William Shakespeare’s play “Coriolanus,” a classic tragedy that explores the cost of pride and the dangers of unchecked ambition. 

The annual Theatre for Young Audiences production, “Me … Jane: The Dreams & Adventures of Young Jane Goodall” runs Nov. 19-22 at the Richard G. Fallon Theatre. Based on the children’s book “Me…Jane,” by Patrick McDonnell, the show follows young Jane Goodall, who would become a world-renowned primatologist, and her toy chimp, Jubilee, on a musical adventure full of wildlife.  

Spring 2027 brings Bess Wohl’s environmental dark comedy play “Continuity” to the Lab Theatre from Feb. 26 to March 7. Told in six takes, the playfuses Hollywood, science and satire in a story in which the real disaster is us. 

Closing the 2026-27 season is “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” based on the Victor Hugo novel and featuring songs from the Disney film. The tale of love, acceptance and what it means to be a hero runs April 9-18 at the Richard G. Fallon Theatre. 

Tickets range from $10 to $35 each and can be purchased online, by phone at (850) 644-6500 or at the Fine Arts Ticket Office in the Fine Arts Building at 540 W. Call St. 

The Fine Arts Ticket Office is open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, as well as one hour before each performance. Performance times vary. Visit the School of Theatre website for more information or to purchase tickets. 

To learn more about the FSU School of Theatre, visit theatre.fsu.edu. 

2026-27 season at a glance

Oct. 16-25: Bring It On: The Musical, Richard G. Fallon Theatre 

Nov. 6-15: Coriolanus, The Lab Theatre 

Nov. 19-22: Me … Jane: The Dreams & Adventures of Young Jane Goodall, Richard G. Fallon Theatre 

Feb. 26-March 7: Continuity, The Lab Theatre 

April 9-18: The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Richard G. Fallon Theatre 

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Florida State University’s Maggie Allesee National Center for Choreography (MANCC) will welcome nationally recognized choreographers to campus this fall as the center resumes its artist residency program after a one-year hiatus. 

The fall lineup includes Fana Fraser, Kimberly Bartosik, and Joseph “MN Joe” Tran and Lisa “MonaLisa” Berman of BRKFST Dance Company. 

“We are excited to have artists back in the studio,” said MANCC Director Ansje Burdick. “Joining us from across the country, our fall artists are all in early developmental stages of creation as they explore human emotion and interior experiences, collaborate with dramaturgs, refine movement vocabularies and construct soundscapes.” 

MANCC is one of only two national choreographic centers housed at a university. Its location at FSU allows visiting artists to collaborate with scholars and researchers across disciplines and draw on the university’s specialized facilities as they develop new works in contemporary dance. 

MANCC tailors each residency to an artist’s creative process and stage of the work. Artists may experiment with movement alongside FSU School of Dance students, explore lighting design, construct set pieces or consult with academic experts across disciplines. 

The residencies give FSU School of Dance students access to nationally recognized choreographers and a look at how new works are developed.  

This fall, students can attend work-in-progress showings and open studio sessions, participate in movement experiments and engage directly with the artists. Read more about the visiting artists below:

Fana Fraser 

Artist, director and producer Fana Fraser returns to MANCC this month to begin developing a new project, “After the Fallow.” Fraser participated in MANCC’s Forward Dialogues laboratory program in 2017, and their dance films and live performances have since been featured at events and festivals around the world. During the residency, Fraser plans to work with dancers and dramaturgs to bring elements of their outdoor movement practice into the studio and share work in progress during an open studio.     

Kimberly Bartosik   

Guggenheim Fellowship-winning choreographer, performer and educator Kimberly Bartosik comes to MANCC for the first time in October to developher new work, “blood anchor,” which explores the complex power of blood relations and the epidemic of modern loneliness. During this early-stage residency, Bartosik will collaborate with three performers, a dramaturg and a lighting designer to explore the work’s emotional landscape and shape its visual design. 

BRKFST Dance Company  

Joseph “MN Joe” Tran and Lisa “MonaLisa” Berman, co-founders of the Minnesota-based BRKFST Dance Company, come to MANCC for the first time to develop an evening-length duet blending breaking, improvisation and partnering. The work explores how connections to oneself, the body andrelationships evolve during trauma. It draws from Berman’s experience as a two-time cancer survivor and Tran’s experience supporting her through her treatment. Tran and Berman are recipients of the 2026 McKnight Choreography Fellowship, and their MANCC residency was supported by funds from the McKnight Choreography Fellowship program, administered by Springboard for the Arts and funded by the McKnight Foundation. 

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Florida State University has launched the FSU Humanities Center within the College of Arts and Sciences, establishing an interdisciplinary hub to advance humanities research and expand the field’s visibility across the university and beyond.

Led by its founding director, John Corrigan, the Lucius Moody Bristol Distinguished Professor of Religion and Professor of History, the center aims to encourage collaboration and innovation by exploring questions about the historical, intellectual and cultural dimensions of the human experience. It will also help prepare students for careers in fields including law, education, writing, communications and public service.

“The Humanities Center reflects the legacy of FSU’s commitment to the advancement of the humanities,” said FSU President Richard McCullough. “I am especially grateful to John Corrigan for his leadership in bringing this center to life and to Provost Jim Clark and College of Arts and Sciences Dean Sam Huckaba for their commitment to making this a reality. We are creating new opportunities for faculty, students, staff and the community to collaborate, pursue important research and further strengthen the humanities at FSU.”

Affiliated units include FSU’s Departments of Classics, English, History, Modern Languages and Linguistics, Philosophy and Religion in the College of Arts and Sciences; Art History and Theatre and Performance Research in the College of Fine Arts; and the Musicology program along with Music Theory and Composition in the College of Music. The center will support four FSU faculty fellows, six dissertation fellows pursuing doctoral degrees from FSU humanities departments, 15 undergraduate fellows pursuing honors theses or other humanities research projects, and four postdoctoral fellows serving two-year residencies.

Researchers in the FSU Humanities Center will unite their efforts around a central theme that runs on a two-year cycle. The theme for 2026-2027 is “The Human in the Humanities,” which explores what it means to be human amid the rise of artificial intelligence and the discoveries of neuroscience and genetics, and what ethical behavior and the “good life” look like in this new technological era. The fellows’ collaborative work may result in books, exhibitions, reports, extended articles, websites or other public expressions of their research.

“Establishing this center has long been a goal of our faculty members, and it will showcase the research excellence and scholarly productivity of FSU’s humanities programs.”

— Sam Huckaba, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences

“Establishing this center has long been a goal of our faculty members, and it will showcase the research excellence and scholarly productivity of FSU’s humanities programs,” Huckaba said. “I appreciate the efforts of the Humanities Center Task Force in developing this bold proposal and President McCullough and Provost Jim Clark for their support in turning it into reality.”

The new center is also a member of the Consortium of Humanities Centers and Institutes, a global forum that supports hundreds of humanities centers and institutes through advocacy, funding opportunities and fostering collaboration. Membership connects FSU faculty and students with a network of humanities scholars and provides opportunities for partnerships and engagement with other humanities centers and institutes around the world.

“The Humanities Center rests on the premise that good things happen when people from different disciplines share their ideas about what it means to be human,” Corrigan said. “Our vision is to create a place where researchers in the humanities at FSU, as well as the public, can engage in interdisciplinary conversation and equally find ways to strengthen their expertise in their areas of study.”

By partnering with university, cultural, social and governmental organizations, the center also aims to expand its work beyond campus. It will host a series of lectures and events open to the public throughout the academic year, culminating in an annual international conference in February that explores the current theme. The conference will feature a keynote address by Blair LM Kelley, the president and director of the National Humanities Center, a nonprofit institute founded in 1978 with the mission of supporting scholars whose work helps expand knowledge and shape our understanding of the world we inhabit.

“It is a great time for the humanities to increase their visibility and emphasize the career paths open for those in this field ­— from roles like journalists, teachers, government and NGO employees, and consultants, to lawyers, business entrepreneurs, public relations professionals and more,” Corrigan said. “At the same time, the humanities will continue to do what they have always done, which is to prompt students to think creatively and critically about who they are, what the human is, and what it means to be a good citizen, friend and person.”

To learn more about the FSU Humanities Center, visit humanities.fsu.edu.

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Alumni of FSU’s College of Motion Picture Arts have left their mark on some of this summer’s most prominent movies.

Nat Sanders (BFA ’02) served as an editor on “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” David Robert Mitchell (MFA ’02) wrote, directed and produced “The End of Oak Street,” and Alex Ullom (BFA ’20) wrote, directed and edited the independent thriller “It Ends.” Ullom’s classmates Carrie Carusone and Evan Barber (also both BFA ’20) were producers on the film.

“To see our alumni contributing at this level is an incredible point of pride for FSU Film,” said Reb Braddock, dean of the College of Motion Picture Arts. “Nat and David have each built remarkable careers, while Alex, Carrie and Evan are part of an exciting new generation of FSU filmmakers. Their success shows our students just how many paths there are to making an impact in this industry.”

“Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” starring Tom Holland and directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, has become one of the year’s biggest box-office successes.

The film continues Sanders’ collaboration with Cretton, which includes “Short Term 12,” “The Glass Castle,” “Just Mercy” and Marvel Studios’ “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.”

Sanders also was part of the FSU Film alumni team behind the Academy Award-winning “Moonlight.” He and fellow FSU graduate Joi McMillon edited the film and earned Academy Award nominations for Best Film Editing. Sanders has worked extensively with “Moonlight” writer-director and fellow FSU alumnus Barry Jenkins, including editing Jenkins’ first feature, “Medicine for Melancholy,” and “If Beale Street Could Talk.”

“It was at the FSU Film School where I discovered my love for editing and also formed the friendships and relationships that made my career possible,” Sanders said. “I’m so grateful for my time at FSU Film.”

Mitchell returned to theaters this summer with “The End of Oak Street,” a science-fiction adventure starring Anne Hathaway and Ewan McGregor. The film follows the Platt family after a mysterious cosmic event transports their suburban neighborhood to an unknown place, forcing them to navigate unfamiliar surroundings to survive.

Mitchell made his feature directorial debut with “The Myth of the American Sleepover” and gained international attention with the 2014 horror film “It Follows.” He later wrote and directed “Under the Silver Lake.”

“My time at FSU, and the lifelong friendships I made there have been key factors in my ability to make films,” Mitchell said. “It’s a super important place for me.”

Ullom’s feature directorial debut, “It Ends,” opened in select theaters Aug. 21 after strong critical attention and is set to expand nationwide Friday. The film premiered at the 2025 SXSW Film & TV Festival.

“It Ends” follows four recent college graduates who set out on a late-night drive and find themselves trapped on a seemingly endless road. The film has drawn national attention for Ullom, whose debut comes just four years after earning his BFA from FSU.

Ullom credited his experience at FSU with helping make the film possible and connecting him with collaborators who remain part of his life and work.

“It gave me the friends and collaborators that supported me and are now my lifelong friends. I also couldn’t have made the film without the school supporting us,” Ullom said.

The work of Sanders, Mitchell, Ullom, Carusone and Barber adds to a long record of FSU Film alumni working across the motion picture industry as directors, producers, writers, editors, cinematographers and other filmmaking professionals.

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