Heller Center selects new faculty director; Cunningham retires

Church

Minette Church, associate professor, Department of Anthropology, is the new faculty director of the Heller Center for Arts & Humanities.

Church replaces Suzanne MacAulay, professor and chair, Department of Visual and Performing Arts, as faculty director. MacAulay served as the first faculty director for the Heller Center, a position designed to rotate among Heller Center departments every three years. The faculty director is responsible for managing the artist/scholar-in-residence program, reviewing and approving the guest house applications, answering classroom-related questions about the Heller Center and working closely with UCCS staff involved in the Heller Center’s operation.

Mary Coussons-Read, executive vice chancellor, Academic Affairs, announced Church’s appointment as well as the retirement of Perrin Cunningham, curator, Heller Center for Arts & Humanities. Cunningham was associated with the Heller Center since 2002 and previously served as its director. She secured state grants to support the Heller Center, was involved in fundraising and helped oversee the Heller restoration project. The Heller Center won Historic Civil Restoration Awards in 2010 and 2011, and American Association of Museums grants in 2013 and 2014.

“I am very proud of the work I’ve been able to do at the Heller Center,” Cunningham said. “This seems to be a good time to step into the background. I have great confidence in Professor Church and know that she will continue the legacy of the Hellers.”

Cunningham will continue to teach humanities courses at UCCS in addition to working on writing and film projects.