UK's Nancy Jones Named Distinguished Arts Educator

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 14, 2015) — Nancy Jones, chair of the University of Kentucky Department of Theatre and Dance and professor at the College of Fine Arts, has been named the winner of Kentucky's National Society of Arts and Letters (NSAL) Distinguished Arts Educator Award. She received this honor at a ceremony held Dec. 13, at the Woodlands.

"Winning this award is a real thrill and a very special honor. What makes the award so meaningful is that it comes from those who are passionate about the arts. I am deeply thankful for their support and acknowledgement of my work," said Jones.

The NSAL distinguished arts educator award was instituted in 1998 to recognize and reward the work of dedicated mentors and teachers of young artists. Recipients of the award are selected by a NSAL nominating committee.

Jones brings an international resume of theatre experience to the classroom. On UK's campus, she has helped with the development of many interdisciplinary projects as well as the development of a UK Education Abroad Program with UK Honors Program students in Paris, France, that takes place every summer. She has received numerous grants and is active in the Southeastern Theatre Conference and serves on the board of the Kentucky Foundation for Women and Kentucky Theatre Association.

Outside of UK, Jones' performance career includes credits in dance companies, equity tours, television, commercials and film. Her work as a theatre director has been featured in New York at the Lincoln Center Directors Lab, where she staged Shakespeare's "Midsummer Night's Dream"; the New York International Fringe Festival, the American Living Room Festival at HERE; Immigrants' Theatre Project; New York Performance Works; New Dramatists, the country’s premiere playwright development organization; and Actors Theatre of Louisville 24-Hour Play Festival.

NSAL is a not-for-profit organization that encourages and provides financial assistance to talented young artists at the beginning of their careers. Founded over sixty-eight years ago in Washington, D.C., NSAL comprises 18 chapters representing all regions of the United States. Members of NSAL are men and women engaged professionally in the arts, or who want to actively support the work of young artists.

Kentucky's NSAL chapter is filled with dedicated members who serve as active arts advocates, encouraging gifted young artists, promoting art appreciation and cultural community development throughout Central Kentucky.

The UK Department of Theatre and Dance at UK College of Fine Arts has played an active role in the performance scene in Central Kentucky for more than 100 years. Students in the program get hands-on training and one-on-one mentorship from a renowned professional theatre faculty. The liberal arts focus of their bachelor's degree program is coupled with ongoing career counseling to ensure a successful transition from campus to professional life.

MEDIA CONTACT: Whitney Hale, 859-257-8716; whitney.hale@uky.edu