Southeast Missouri State University welcomed seven new faculty members to the Department of Theatre and Dance this school year.

The seven new members specialize in costume and scene design, acting, directing, voice and choreography and have chosen Southeast as their place of profession for a variety of reasons.

Bart Williams, an instructor of acting and stage combat, was seeking a department that prepares undergraduates to be professionals.

"I was looking for a department that trains students to look at performance as a business," Williams said. "I want to help students who want a career in the arts find the path that suits them best."

Williams is an honorary member of the Chicago Associates of The Stratford Festival of Ontario who has worked in both Canada and the United Kingdom and hopes to aid in supplying students with the skills to not only audition, but direct and produce.

Jonathan Allender-Zivic, a technical director and lighting designer, chose Southeast because of its size and atmosphere.

"I like the size of the department and the pace of the show season. I have enjoyed the environment on campus -- it is very vibrant. People have fun and truly want to be here," Allender-Zivic said.

Allender-Zivic has worked all over the country in lighting design and technical direction, and has worked on more than 100 different productions in the past five years.

The theatre and dance department programs are growing, according to Roxanne Wellington, a new assistant professor who teaches acting, voice and auditioning technique.

"It is an exciting time to be a part of the Holland School [of Visual and Performing Arts] at Southeast," Wellington said. "We have a large number of incoming freshmen and an extremely talented pool of theatre artists that come with a lot of performing experience and from several different states. The amount of professional guest artists that the Holland School brings in is more than any other school I know of."

Wellington, a professional actor for more than 25 years and a 20-year member of the Actors Equity Association, envisions making a significant difference in the lives of Southeast theatre students.

"I hope to help them discover what their dream is for their future -- not my dream for them or their families but to help them discover and achieve what they want to do so that they can live the lives they to want to have," Wellington said.

Faculty in the Department of Theatre and Dance at Southeast value the importance of the arts and emphasize that it is more than just a job.

"I think theatre arts help teach empathy, confidence and communication. It also rewards persistence, dedication and hard work," Williams said.

The faculty are also encouraging Southeast students and faculty outside of the theatre department to share an appreciation of the arts with them.

"People should appreciate the arts because it is a great way to get exposure to art at a level that is understandable to all," Allender-Zivic said.

Michael McIntosh, instructor of musical theatre, directing and acting; Staci Walters, assistant professor of scenic design; and Dusty Shaffer, assistant professor of costume design, also all joined the Department of Theatre and Dance.

In addition, the department gained a new instructor of ballet and choreography, Michelle Ramos.