Tara Z. Mullins, a graduate student in the Herberger College of Fine Arts Department of Dance at ASU, has been awarded the 2002 ASU Faculty Women's Association Distinguished Achievement Award.

The Distinguished Achievement Awards are presented to one female doctoral student and two masters students who have distinguished themselves through exceptional scholarship, research and creative activities, and through noteworthy leadership and service. Download Full Image

While pursuing her master's degree in dance at ASU, Mullins worked with Dance Arizona Repertory Theatre (DART), the resident student dance company and the community partnership arm of the department.

Currently, she is facilitating a partnership with Thomas J. Pappas High School for the Homeless. Mullin's research examines year-long partnerships and the relationship between consistency in after-school arts programs and the developement of trust.

Her contributions, however, extend beyond scholarly research. Her creative work is also exquisite. Her most recent dance piece, which focuses on women's issues, was selected by the entire department to represent ASU at the Southwest Regional American College Dance Festival.

Dance faculty member Jennifer Tsukayama, co-artistic director of DART, nominated Mullins for the award.

"I believe Tara to be one of the department's most promising graduate students. Her teaching, creative, and research contributions are valuable to the students, the faculty, and department," Tsukayama says. "Tara is a natural leader and mentor, and she has been invaluable in the realization of many of DART's goals."

Mullins is a graduate of James Madison University with a bachelor's degree in dance. She was a member of Doug Hamby Dance in Baltimore, Maryland, and two Virginia-based dance companies - Starr Foster Dance Project and Latin Ballet of Virginia, with which she recently performed in Colombia, South America. Mullins has worked with such artists as Liz Lerman, Daniel Nagrin, Laurie Eisenhower, Richard Colton, and Amy Spencer.

Her choreography has been set on the Opera Theatre of Northern Virginia and Paradigm Players, a Washington, D.C.-based company that celebrates diversity by including members with various abilities.

The Department of Dance is nationally ranked in the top 10 by Dance Teacher Now magazine. Its graduate program is ranked 5th and its undergraduate program is ranked 9th. The ARCO Performance Arts College Guide calls the department one of the "most highly recommended programs" in the country.

Krause, with The Katherine K. Herberger College of Fine Arts, can be reached at (480) 965-8796 or (megan.krause@asu.edu). 

Media Contact:
Megan Krause
480-965-8795
megan.krause@asu.edu