(Meal provided by Dairy Queen)

SUSAN THOMAE-MORPHEW and LIZ HUTSON

UT Tyler Cowan Center

Susan Thomae-Morphew is the executive director of the UT Tyler Cowan Center and has directed the Center for almost 20 years.  Prior to the Cowan Center she taught dance at private studios and on the university level, directed her own dance company in Colorado, managed the City of Harlingen arts program, and worked for many non-profit organizations. She has created many alliances for arts disciplines and arts communities and provides consulting services for other universities.  She has lived from coast to coast through her dance and arts management careers.  A native Texan, Susan grew up in the Rio Grande Valley.  Her credentials include a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from the Meadows School of the Arts, Southern Methodist University, a Master of Education in Dance from Colorado State University and a Master of Fine Arts in Theatre Arts Management from United States International University in San Diego, California.  She is a member of Tyler Museum of Art and the Women’s Fund.  Her professional affiliations are with Southwest Performing Arts Presenters, Arts Midwest and Association of Performing Arts Presenters.

Liz Hutson is the Community Engagement Coordinator of the UT Tyler Cowan Center, where she has been on staff for the past two years. Prior to the Cowan Center, she was a litigation paralegal at law firms in Louisiana and Colorado, and worked for a real estate development company as a senior living community director. Liz is a native of East Texas, and received her Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Texas at Tyler. She is a member of the Women’s Fund, serves on the board for Goodwill Industries of East Texas, and is an active member of her church.