Press Releases

OLIVA WINS ALUMNI AWARD FROM NY

Lincoln, Neb.—Giacomo M. Oliva, the endowed dean of the University of Nebraska—Lincoln Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts, has been selected to receive the 2008 Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award of New York University's Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development.

The award recognizes exceptional individuals whose achievements in his or her profession, vocation, social and/or cultural endeavors are of extraordinary merit. The award is the Steinhardt's highest alumni honor.

The award will be presented to Oliva at the Steinhardt's Doctoral Convocation on Monday, May 12 at the New York University Skirball Center for the Performing Arts in New York City. Oliva is tentatively scheduled to attend the ceremony and will address the graduates.

Oliva received his Ed.D. in music education and administration in 1980 from New York University. He received his bachelor's degree cum laude in music education and his master's degree in applied music (piano) from Montclair (N.J.) State College.

He taught in the New Jersey public schools for 12 years before becoming assistant professor and head of the department of music at Mississippi State University in Starkville. He was professor and director of the School of Music at the University of Florida at Gainesville from 1992-2001.

Oliva became dean of the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts at UNL in July 2001. He leads the Hixson-Lied Advisory Board, which oversees the $18 million endowment for the college, and oversaw NU alumnus Johnny Carson's $10.3 million donation to the University of Nebraska Foundation to support the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film.

He recently completed a two-year term as president of the International Society for Music Education and is currently serving as president of the Lincoln Arts Council.