College to celebrate semester with annual IC Kicks Back event

The annual IC Kicks Back event will take place on the last day of classes. This is a tradition where students can come and celebrate the end of the year with friends. There will be free food, a concert put on by the Bureau of Concerts and a variety of activities from several Ithaca College student organizations. The event will take place 2–6 p.m. May 6 on the Campus Center Quad. In addition to IC Kicks Back, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 7 there will be an IC Community Brunch. Both of these events are free.

Local general manager dies at 51 from cancer after 10 years at TCAT

Joseph J. Turcotte, Tompkins County Area Transit general manager, died May 2 from cancer. He was 51 years old.

Under Turcotte’s leadership, TCAT’s ridership grew from more than 3 million to more than 4 million annual trips, which was an unusual accomplishment for a service area of TCAT’s size. Under Turcotte’s watch, TCAT was named the best transit agency of its size in North America in 2011 by the Washington, D.C.–based American Public Transportation Association.

Turcotte took over as TCAT’s general manager in 2005. He was known as a supporter of Gadabout Transportation Services, an organization that partners with TCAT for its paratransit services. Gadabout is a nonprofit transportation service for older and disabled residents of
Tompkins County.

Associate dean of Park School appointed after national search

Rob Gearhart has been appointed associate dean of the Roy H. Park School of Communications, following a national search. Gearhart has been serving as interim associate dean for the last six months. In this position, he had responsibilities focused on the advancement and integration of co-curricular and curricular learning, coordination of faculty staffing plans and course schedules, and support for student and faculty activities in areas like risk management, endowed grants, scholarships, and faculty mentoring.

Gearhart previously oversaw the college’s Office of Extended Studies and its strategies with online learning. Prior to being assistant provost, Gearhart was the associate dean and then the acting dean of graduate and professional studies at the college. Gearhart has a B.S. and M.S. from the Park School and taught there for 12 years. He is also on the City of Ithaca’s Common Council and a board member of the State Theater.

IC School of Music fills director position effective in Fall 2016

Ithaca College’s School of Music appointed Christopher Hughes as director of bands, effective Fall 2016. Hughes is currently director of instrumental studies and associate professor of music at New Mexico State University. This selection was made following a national, yearlong search in which almost 100 candidates were reviewed. The search committee was chaired by music performance professor Michael Galvan and included professors Wendy Menhe, Alex Perialas, Alex Shuhan and Jeffery Meyer.

The search committee praised Hughes as being a dedicated and effective educator and musician. They also discussed how Hughes had a specific and clear vision for the college’s program, showing a true passion and knowledge.

Hughes currently serves as the director of instrumental studies and associate professor of music at New Mexico State University. He has a doctorate of musical arts in instrumental conducting and literature from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Hughes has led graduate conducting programs and instrumental ensembles throughout the United States and Asia, going to China, Singapore, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Australia, Myanmar, Thailand, England and all across the United States. Hughes has commissioned, recorded and premiered numerous new works.

Downtown Ithaca Fashion Night to feature style and live music

Downtown Ithaca Fashion Night will take place 5–8 p.m. May 6, which is also a First Friday Gallery Night. During this event, participants can go to stores on The Commons and enjoy fashion activities, including fashion tips from style experts, trunk shows, samples, mini makeovers, live music, style contests, food and drinks, prizes and more. Participants can pick up a Fashion Night Passport so they can mark their stops during the evening and enter to win a Downtown Ithaca Style Makeover.

First Friday Gallery Night is a community celebration that takes place on the first Friday of every month. During these nights, local art houses and galleries have receptions, performances and other events showcasing local and international artists. Gallery Night is free and open to the public.