Alison Deem, of Bridgeport, W.Va., has been named Distinguished Friend of the West Virginia University College of Creative Arts, a special recognition given to an individual who is not an alumnus of the College but who has demonstrated extraordinary commitment and contributions to both the College and to WVU.

The recipient of the award is selected by the College of Creative Arts Visiting Committee.

Deem’s award was presented during this year’s annual Deem Distinguished Visiting Artist Lecture, which was given by internationally known artist Mel Chin earlier this month.

For the past 19 years, Alison and her husband Patrick have sponsored the Deem Distinguished Artist Lecture Series that brings leading contemporary artists and scholars to the WVU campus.

Deem Distinguished Artists have included such notables as Phoebe Adams, Ann Agee, Hachivi Edgar Heap of Birds, Judy Linn, Pam Longobardi, Kendell Geers, Johanna Drucker, Buzz Spector, Diana Cooper, Carmon Colangelo, Willie Cole, Judy Glantzman, Ann Hamilton, James Luna, Mark Klett, Hasan Elahi, Michael Mercil and Amy Franceschini.

This visiting artist series has become an integral part of the educational experience of thousands of students and is a high point of each academic year and furthers the mission of the School of Art & Design as a leader in the education, creative development, and professional preparation of artists, teachers and scholars.

The Deems also recently pledged $100,000 to the Art Museum of WVU to support construction of the new museum building, for which the groundbreaking will be held later this year.

In 2004, the Deems established the J. Bernard Schultz Endowed Professorship, which honors former Dean Bernie Schultz and provides funding to support research and creative activity by a professor of art and design at WVU.

But it is Alison’s friendship with the school and with the College of Creative Arts, that is most cherished by faculty and students at the Creative Arts Center.

“Alison Deem is one of the most giving and dedicated friends this college could ever imagine,” said Dean Paul Kreider. “Her gifts of time, expertise, and love far outweigh any monetary gift that has been made. The College of Creative Arts is grateful to Alison for her undying friendship.”

Since graduating from WVU in 1970 from the College of Human Resources and Education, Alison Harper Deem has gone on to give hundreds of hours in time to the College of Creative Arts. She has chaired the college’s Visiting Committee, been a member of the board that manages the partnership between the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and WVU and helped to found the Friends of the Art Museum of WVU.

She has also served on the membership or boards of the United Way of Harrison County, the Bridgeport Public Library, the West Virginia Library Commission, the United Health Foundation, and the Advisory Committee on the Arts for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.

In 2012, she was named to the Order of Vandalia, the highest honor for extraordinary service to West Virginia University. The Order of Vandalia recognizes those who have made far-reaching contributions to WVU long after their college years.

-WVU-

cl/03/26/13

CONTACT: Charlene Lattea, College of Creative Arts
304-293-4359, Charlene.Lattea@mail.wvu.edu

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