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Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts

Campaign for Nebraska


The College has currently raised $15, 768,577 of its total goal of $20 million

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts has established a goal of raising $20 million as part of the University of Nebraska Foundation's Campaign for Nebraska.

  • $4 million for Student Support, including graduate fellowships, undergraduate scholarships, and awards and recognitions to enable us to attract outstanding students and to recognize and support the creative and scholarly work that students undertake in the pursuit of their degrees.
  • $3 million for Faculty Support, including endowed faculty professorships, visiting artists and scholars, national and international faculty exchanges and collaborations, and awards and recognitions that distinguish and celebrate faculty performance and achievements.
  • $13 million for Program Support, including innovative projects and activities, and in particular, those that are interdisciplinary or that rely heavily on cutting-edge technology for their long-term sustainability and success.

Since its founding in 1993, the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts flourishes in many ways. Enrollment has more than doubled and remains strong in all degree programs. The scholarly and creative work of our faculty, students and alumni continues to gain increasing national and international recognition.

So much of what we have accomplished would not have been possible were it not for the alumni and friends of the College who made generous contributions over the years in support of scholarships, facilities, workshops and residencies, special activities and events, and academic programs. We are grateful for everything you and others have done. To join these supporters in their endeavor, please give to the College today.


The Campaign for Nebraska and Hixson-Lied College logos


Privately Supported Projects

A few examples of how private support enhances the quality of our programs for students and faculty:

  • Student Aaron Nix (left) receives instructions from Camera Assistant Bob Heine while filming Vipers in the Grass in Ashland, NE

    Student Aaron Nix (left) receives instructions from Camera Assistant Bob Heine.

    		 Work completed in 2010 on the Johnny Carson School Film Series' first film, Vipers in the Grass. Students were paired with film professionals from Los Angeles and New York to create the short film, which has been recently completed after three years of work for pre-production, filming and post-production, and is currently being entered to various film festivals. The project was supported with funding from the Hixson-Lied Endowment and the Johnny Carson Theatre and Film Endowment.

  • The School of Music's Opera Program has twice traveled to Waterford, Ireland, to compete in the Waterford International Festival of Light Opera. Most Happy Fella took home six awards in 2007, including the Waterford International Trophy for best overall production. In 2002, The Bohemian Girl won four awards, including best operetta. Both trips were made possible through a generous donation by James and Rhonda Seacrest of Lincoln.
    UNL Opera production crew and performers pose with their awards won in 2007.

    UNL Opera in 2007. Photo courtesy of the School of Music.

  • A professor lectures to a group of students in the Richards Art Gallery

    Photo by Mark Stenbakken/University Communications.

    		 The Eisentrager-Howard Gallery in Richards Hall was dedicated in 2001 following the renovation of Richards Hall. The gallery space, located on the first floor of Richards Hall, features a full exhibition schedule of student, faculty, alumni, and outside artist exhibitions for the Department of Art and Art History. The gallery was made possible by generous donations by two emeriti faculty, James and Dorene Eisentrager and Dan and Barbara Howard.

Hixson-Lied College Campaign Committee

  • Christina M. Hixson,
    Honorary Chair

    James C. and Rhonda Seacrest,
    Co-Chairs

    Christin J. Mamiya,
    Interim Dean and Hixson-Lied
    Professor of History

    Lucy Buntain Comine,
    University of Nebraska Foundation
    		 Rhonda and James C. Seacrest

    Rhonda and James C. Seacrest
  • Honorary Members
    Dick Cavett
    LaVon Crosby
    Barbara J. Gilmore Dinsdale
    Donald and Ann Farber    		 Norman Geske
    Bruce and Carol Hendrickson
    Dan and Barbara Howard
    Herbert E. Howe    		 Mrs. Larry H. Lusk
    Ann K. Rawley
    Jane Rohman

  • Members
    James Baffico
    Robert Fought
    Larry Frederick
    Kathleen I. Friedman
    Ron and Chris Harris    		 Pamela Schaap Hemann
    Jon Hinrichs
    Tice L. Miller
    Joseph M. Ruffo
    James W. Strand    		 Carol Thompson
    Diana H. Warner
    Ernie Weyeneth