{"id":1536,"date":"2022-02-09T17:00:47","date_gmt":"2022-02-09T17:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/svpa\/?page_id=1536"},"modified":"2025-09-29T19:21:33","modified_gmt":"2025-09-29T19:21:33","slug":"svpca-faculty-spotlight","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.wcsu.edu\/svpca\/svpca-faculty-spotlight\/","title":{"rendered":"SVPCA Faculty Spotlight"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n


\n<\/em>The WCSU SVPCA Faculty Spotlight is a recognition of the outstanding work being done by our esteemed faculty in the School of Visual, Performing, and Communication Arts. We hope you take a moment to read about the accomplishments of the faculty members featured in this semester’s spotlight. We are extremely fortunate to have many faculty members with remarkable achievements in their field. We look forward to highlighting many more of these achievements in future editions of the WCSU SVPCA Faculty Spotlight.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Department<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

This semester\u2019s SVPCA Faculty Spotlight for the Department of Art is on Rob Nadeau.<\/b> Rob Nadeau is an American painter and educator from Rochester, NY. He holds a BA from Brown University and an MFA in painting and printmaking from the Rhode Island School of Design. Rob has served as adjunct professor for numerous years, and beginning this Fall, as Assistant Professor of Art. \u201cWe\u2019ve known Rob for a few years as one of our MFA critics.\u201d says Ken Scaglia, chair of the Department of Art. \u201cNow, Rob has joined the full-time faculty for our undergrads in the Foundation classes. His multi-media art practice and multi-disciplinary approach to projects will really benefit our first year students. Rob\u2019s artistic talents are a great fit for our students\u2019 interests and natural curiosity about art process.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Over the years, Nadeau has exhibited widely in solo and group shows across the U.S. and internationally, including venues such as LFL\/Zach Feuer Gallery (NYC), Mixed Greens (NYC), Marlboro College, and Markus Winter Gallery in Berlin. He has received prestigious awards including the Joan Mitchell Foundation MFA Grant and Career Opportunity Grant, and has held residencies at Yaddo, the Edward F. Albee Foundation, and the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown.<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/b>In 2024, Nadeau co-exhibited <\/span>State Changes<\/span><\/i> with Ben King at the Spring Break Art Fair in New York City, continuing his exploration of abstraction and material experimentation. He also participated in <\/span>The Space Between<\/span><\/i> at the Judy Black Memorial Gallery in Washington, CT, and curated several group exhibitions that reflect his commitment to fostering dialogue in contemporary art.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

This semester\u2019s SVPCA Faculty Spotlight for the Department of Communication and Media Arts is on Dr. JC Barone. <\/b>Barone<\/span> is a distinguished faculty member in the Department of Communication & Media Arts. With a background in media production and journalism, JC is known for his dynamic teaching style and commitment to fostering student creativity and critical thinking. His work spans digital filmmaking, live broadcasting, and public engagement, often blending academic rigor with real-world impact.<\/span><\/p>\n

JC Barone continues to demonstrate exceptional productivity and creative engagement. He contributed to the digital film <\/span>Stories of Women Pioneering Artists NYC: Kate Millett and Mildred Thompson<\/span><\/i>, released by On This Spot in New York City in July 2025. His mentorship also led to student success: the live video broadcast <\/span>AI Invasion<\/span><\/i> earned Honorable Mention in the College\/University-Feature News Report category at the Student Production Awards by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Additionally, JC served as a guest lecturer for the Women\u2019s League of Voters of Northern Fairfield County, presenting on \u201cMedia Impact, Ownership, Framing and the Partisanship of News.\u201d<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/b>\u201cJC has an unmatched determination and it shows in his level of productivity. Winter or summer breaks, it doesn’t matter. JC is consistently engaging in some sort of creative activity.\u201d – <\/span>Dr. Katie Ong, Chair, Department of Communication & Media Arts<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

This semester\u2019s SVPCA Faculty Spotlight for the Department of Music is on Dr. Kevin Jay Isaacs. <\/b>Since joining the faculty of Western Connecticut State University in 1990, <\/span>Dr. Isaacs has been a cornerstone of the Department of Music, shaping generations of musicians, educators, and performers through his visionary leadership and unwavering dedication. Over the course of more than three decades, Dr. Isaacs has taught courses in theory, composition, and choral studies, and served in key roles including Associate Chair of the department and Coordinator of the Master of Science in Music Education program. His influence extends beyond the classroom, having guided the WCSU Concert Choir and Chamber Singers to regional and national acclaim, including performances with the New Haven Symphony, Ridgefield Symphony, and appearances at Carnegie Hall.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dr. Isaacs\u2019 contributions to WCSU are not limited to performance and pedagogy. He played a pivotal role in the development of the university\u2019s <\/span>Visual and Performing Arts Center, serving on the building committee and helping to shape the future of arts education on campus. His commitment to excellence was recognized with the inaugural <\/span>WCSU Excellence in Teaching Award in 2007-08, and his work as a composer and conductor has earned national attention. His commissioned compositions have been performed by ensembles across the country, and his leadership in choral music has inspired countless students to pursue careers in music education and performance. His tenure also included a Mellon Foundation Faculty Fellowship at Yale University\u2019s School of Music and Institute of Sacred Music, further underscoring his stature in the field.<\/span><\/p>\n

As Dr. Isaacs prepares to retire at the end of the Fall 2025 semester, the WCSU community reflects on the profound impact of his career. <\/span>Dr. Laurel Larsen, Chair of the Department of Music, shared: \u201cDr. Isaacs has been an integral part of the WCSU music department since 1990. He has mentored and guided hundreds of WCSU alums in their music education and was instrumental in shaping the direction of the department over the past few decades. His outstanding musicianship, stellar teaching, and sense of humor will be missed by faculty and students when he retires in December.\u201d His legacy will live on in the voices of the choirs he conducted, the compositions he created, and the students he inspired. WCSU celebrates Dr. Isaacs not only for his remarkable career, but for the lasting imprint he leaves on the university and the broader musical community.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

This semester\u2019s SVPCA Faculty Spotlight for the Department of Theatre Arts is on Clifton Chadick.<\/b> Chadick is a New York-based scenic designer and creative director whose work spans Broadway national tours, regional theaters, and international stages. He has collaborated with acclaimed companies such as Arizona Broadway Theatre, Ars Nova, The Flea Theatre, and Norwegian Cruise Lines. Clifton\u2019s designs are known for their emotional resonance and storytelling power, bringing theatrical worlds to life with precision and imagination. He has served as an adjunct faculty member at Western Connecticut State University since 2021, where he teaches scenic design and computer drafting.<\/span><\/p>\n

In 2025, Clifton was nominated for a <\/span>Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Scenic Design of a Musical for his work on <\/span>Music City<\/span><\/i>, produced by BEDLAM Theatre Company in New York City. This prestigious nomination recognizes his exceptional ability to craft immersive environments that elevate the narrative and captivate audiences. Dr. Justin P. Cowan, Chair of the Department of Theatre Arts at WCSU, shared: “We’re so grateful to have Clifton as one of our incredible adjunct faculty members. He provides an unbelievable amount of professional experience and expertise in his field. Our students are very lucky to work alongside him, and we are very lucky to be the beneficiary of his vision and talent. We are not surprised at his Drama Desk nomination, because it speaks to the excellence of his work and his passion and dedication to his craft.”<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

This semester\u2019s SVPCA Faculty Spotlight in the Department of Creative and Professional Writing is on Kate Katcher<\/strong>. Playwright, actor, and director Kate Katcher teaches Playwriting Workshop. She holds an MFA in Creative and Professional Writing from WCSU and previously taught Introduction to Theatre Arts and Playmaking with Children in the Theatre Department. In addition, she has taught at the University of Bridgeport and Housatonic Community College, served as Artistic Director of Newtown\u2019s Stray Kats Theatre Company, and directed theater and media arts outreach programs for inner-city youth.<\/p>\n

Kate is a member of the Dramatists Guild, League of Professional Theatre Women, CT Women\u2019s Theater Network, Theatre Artists Workshop, Actors Equity and SAG\/AFTRA. Her published plays include Scarsdale<\/em>(Best Ten-Minute Plays 2021<\/em>, Smith & Kraus), Bread<\/em> (Laughter is the Best Medicine<\/em>, Smith & Kraus), and Blue Sky with Approaching Storm<\/em> (ArtAge Senior Resource Center). Her debut novel,\u00a036,\u00a0<\/em>is due out in 2026\u00a0<\/em>by Vines Leaves Press. Other full-length works include A Fox in the Henhouse<\/em> (FutureFest Finalist, 2022), Margot<\/em>(read at Actors Studio Playwright\/Directors Unit), and Judith Keith<\/em> (based on Brecht\u2019s The Jewish Wife<\/em>). Short plays include Layover at Reagan National<\/em> and Inclination <\/em>(Chain Theatre), Missus Dobbs, American<\/em> (Rogue Theater Festival, and San Franciso and New Jersey film festival finalist in its taped version), Bassinette <\/em>(Ridgefield Theatre Barn), and Aftershock<\/em> (Queens One-Act Festival, and New Canaan\u2019s upcoming Theatre Artists Workshop).<\/p>\n

Professor Katcher\u2019s love of playwriting stems from her love of acting. She graduated from Boston University with a BFA in Acting, followed by years in La MaMa, ETC, dinner theaters, and summer stock. She\u00a0debuted on Broadway opposite Zero Mostel in\u00a0Fiddler on the Roof\u00a0<\/em>and appeared later in a Fiddler <\/em>revival. She also toured nationally with Wonderful Town<\/em> starring Lauren Bacall.\u00a0Off-Broadway, she starred in\u00a0Daddy Issues, Two for the Seesaw,<\/em> and several other plays. Screen credits include roles in Nurse Jackie, Jon Benjamin Has a Van, Guiding Light,<\/em>\u00a0and Made for Each Other<\/em>. Her own filmed shorts,\u00a0A Nice Drive<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0Planning Ahead<\/em>, part of the \u201cHusband and Wife\u201d webisode series with actor\/husband Don Striano, are available on YouTube.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are delighted that Kate has returned to WestConn to share her many talents, vast experience, and tremendous enthusiasm for storytelling and playwriting with our students,\u201d says Bonnie Denmark, Chair of the Creative and Professional Writing Department.<\/p>\n

To learn more about Kate Katcher, visit katekatcher.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

Click below to view previous installments of the SVPA Faculty Spotlight:<\/p>\n