From left: Patrick Corbin, d. Sabela grimes, Fiona Lummis Eddy, Gillian Finley

In a letter to Kaufman students, faculty and staff, Dean Julia M. Ritter celebrates the promotions of four faculty members and recognizes their contributions to the school.

Dear Kaufman Community,

The Kaufman School’s academic and artistic excellence continues to be reflected in the achievements of our outstanding faculty. I am thrilled to announce the promotions of four long-serving faculty members whose contributions to our school have earned them well-deserved recognition.

Full-Time Faculty Promotions

Patrick Corbin and d. Sabela grimes have been promoted to Professor of Practice, USC’s highest academic rank for full-time RTPC faculty.

Patrick joined Kaufman in 2015 and has played an instrumental role in shaping our curriculum since the school’s earliest days. He will soon embark on a cross-school interdisciplinary research project exploring the potential benefits of integrating dance and yoga.

Sabela enters his 13th year at Kaufman, having joined as one of the school’s founding faculty members in 2014. His leadership during his tenure has been crucial to establishing Kaufman as one of the country’s premier dance programs. He was recently featured in Dance Magazine for the innovative summer program he launched with Michele Byrd-McPhee at Jacob’s Pillow.

Part-Time Faculty Promotions

Fiona Lummis Eddy and Gillian Finley have been promoted to Part-Time Senior Lecturer, one of USC’s highest distinctions for part-time faculty.

Fiona has been the driving force behind the staging of Jiří Kylián’s works, which have become a hallmark of Kaufman’s annual performance repertoire. She recently met with Carmen Thomas of the Kylián Foundation and had dinner with Kylián himself.

Gillian plays a vital role in our curriculum through her teaching of ballet, Pilates, and student wellness. This summer, she also served on the faculty of the National Choreographers Initiative, continuing to share her expertise with the broader dance community.

Each of these faculty members has made an extraordinary impact. Their promotions recognize their individual excellence and enduring commitment to our students, our colleagues, and our community.

Please join me in congratulating Patrick, Sabela, Fiona, and Gillian on these well-earned honors.

Julia M. Ritter, PhD, MFA
Dean